Ruth Helen Smith

“In Witney and West Oxfordshire we work as a highly effective Labour team, bringing constructive ideas and working for consensus to make our wonderful area even better. In the face of cuts. In the face of years of complacency. North Witney needs reliable, well-lit routes into town and to schools on foot and by bike. It needs improvements to existing drainage and any new housing development needs engineering to prevent further flooding. I have not yet seen convincing assurances that the houses proposed towards Hailey have had that level of engineering planned or invested in. North Witney lacks a community centre. The schools and church buildings offer what they can. I will support projects that build community cohesion. On the Town Council, I have made the strong and persistent case for active travel infrastructure for walking and cycling. The sewage petition I ran last year helped to galvanise the District council in its dealings with the water company. A vote for me will be a vote for someone who asks questions to check people are being treated fairly when it comes to housing and benefits or to check our recycling goes where we think it goes. It's a vote for acting to make active travel and playing out safer, to improve air quality, to prevent climate change by opportunities such as community energy, to promote biodiversity... rather than just talking about these things.”