Local elections: Conservatives set out agenda for change

High on the agenda for the Conservatives are issues such as transport, climate change, waste, and housing.

Richard Clewer, deputy leader of Wiltshire Council and candidate for Downton and Ebble Valley, says the Tories have "an exciting tranche of new candidates, bringing with them fresh ideas and energy to drive forward and deliver change".

Unitary, town and parish, and police and crime commissioner elections all take place on Thursday, May 6.

Cllr Richard Clewer

'The status quo is not an option'

Cllr Clewer says the Conservatives have been "listening carefully" to what they have been told on the campaign trail, adding: "Our policies on transport, climate change, waste, and housing have been designed to make our communities even better places to live.”

A bypass for Salisbury to tackle congestion and poor air quality has been high on the agenda during campaigning.

Dr Mark McClelland, standing in Salisbury’s St Francis and Stratford division says he has been "staggered at the level of support for sorting out the city’s road network": “Around 30 per cent of the vehicles on the main routes through Salisbury are through traffic.

"These vehicles are costing local residents time and money, as well as causing a significant air pollution problem. The status quo is not an option – our road infrastructure has not kept pace with the development we have seen over the past twenty years.”

Climate change 'key priority'

Laura Jones

As well as tackling air pollution in Salisbury, Conservative candidates are making climate change a key priority.

According to Laura Jones who is standing for the party in Laverstock and Bishopdown Farm, reducing carbon emissions is critical.

She said: “I am delighted that we have set a target to ensure Wiltshire Council is carbon neutral by 2030. We are also investing in more electric vehicle charging points and have spent £12.3m converting streetlights to LEDs.

"Our track record on this is plain for all to see, with Friends of the Earth declaring us to be the greenest council in the UK. This is proof that we are delivering, not just talking about it.”

Overdevelopment

Ed Rimmer

Ed Rimmer, the Conservative candidate for Bemerton Heath, Fugglestone Red and St Peter’s Place, said: "In our manifesto we are committed to delivering the minimum level of new homes requested by the government. We recognise that we have to take our fair share of houses but I am glad that we have listened to local people, taken feedback on board, and have committed to building 5,000 fewer homes across Wiltshire than had been anticipated by many observers.”

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Keep an eye on the Journal website over the coming days and weeks for everything you need to know about the election and its results. 

• For a full list of candidates standing in the Salisbury City Council elections, click here
• For a full list of Salisbury candidates standing in the Wiltshire Council elections, click here .

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