Eastleigh North Ward candidates video hustings

[0s] you Hello, who are you?

[35s] Hi, I'm Lisa Crosha, newly elected parish counsellor for both Albrooke and Boitwood.

[40s] Wife, mother, friend, quantity surveyor by profession but crucially one of the Eastley North Ward candidates in the local election on May 5th who needs

[50s] you to come out and put an X next to my name so that I can help make Eastly better.

[57s] Hi, my name is Jason Reeves.

[59s] I'm the Eastley North candidate for the Green Party and I work in the Environment Sector.

[64s] Hello, I am Cathy O'Neill.I'm married and have three adult children and twin granddaughters.

[73s] i retired 12 years ago having spent 42 years working for Inland Revenue which then became HMRC.

[82s] Anybody local will probably know me as I was the Treasurer of the Progressive Club in Twyford Road.

[87s] Amongst other things, I also volunteer at the Citizens' Advice Bureau in Eastleigh.

[96s] What's your favourite place in the borough?

[99s] Tricky, as we really are spoilt for choice.

[102s] For the peace and tranquility it brings me, i'm going to choose Albrooke Meadow.

[107s] It is a hidden gem and if you haven't been I encourage you to check it out.

[114s] My favourite place in the borough is the Itching Navigation.

[116s] I love the walk between Eastley and Winchester and I think we're so lucky to have a chalk stream like that right on our doorsteps.

[124s] My favorite places in a borough really depend on what sort of mood I'm in.

[129s] As a child I lived in Netley, and still love to go down to Netly Shore, to the beach and the Victoria Country Park.

[136s] In the summer it's really nice to stroll along the itching navigation canal up to Shoreford and get the train back.

[143s] although sometimes there's nothing nicer than sitting in Steamtown on a Sunday afternoon listening to the Irish music.

[151s] Why are you standing in this election?

[154s] Because I will feel worse if I don't.

[156s] For years I've been frustrated by the decisions the council makes.

[160s] I'm fed up with the quality of services we get for the Council tax we pay and I do not feel I have the right to be moaning about it if i'm not willing

[168s] to put myself forward and offer to do a better job.

[171s] for too long the Liberal Democrat dominated council have ignored your views have taken your vote for granted to change that when you can serve to councillors

[179s] like myself with a plan for our town.

[182s] That is why I'm standing in this election.

[185s] I am standing this in election because the established parties aren't working for local communities.

[191s] There's real apathy in local politics and we need fresh new thinking and new voices in politics.

[198s] And we are decision making for people and the planet.

[201s] The Lib Dems have been in power long enough Local residents have two major concerns in Eastley North, the ones that speak to me.

[211s] That's traffic on Pitmore, Albrooke Hill and Twyford Road, which includes not only speeding but also the weight restriction which is totally ignored.

[222s] And the other thing is the very poor bus service.

[226s] Our bus on a Saturday is two hourly.

[230s] How long have you lived in Eastley and what are your views on local councillors not living in the area that they represent?

[237s] I grew up and went to school in Winchester so Eastle has always been local to me but I have been a resident of Eastleigh for 14 years and I had no plans

[246s] to move anywhere else in future.

[249s] I think if we let electing the best candidate become a game of postcode top trumps then we potentially miss out on some very good candidates.

[256s] Perhaps a better measure of suitability should be the ability to demonstrate an ongoing commitment and engagement with the community you are seeking to represent,

[265s] rather than in some cases a commitment to do so in the future only if and when elected.

[271s] I think councillors should be required to live within the same proximity that makes them eligible to stand in the first place for the duration of their

[279s] four-year term.

[281s] Alternatively, they should stand down and make way for new representation.

[286s] I've lived in The Ward for 11 years now and I do think that councillors do need to be local.

[291s] They need a local understanding of the area and the communities in order to serve those communities to the best of our abilities.

[301s] over 40 years, indeed in the same house for over forty years on Tyford Road.

[306s] I think it's important that local councillors are local to the area and local the people.

[312s] They have more emotional time and understand what local problems are and how they can help.

[319s] Understand that the Lib Dems have any candidate standing in parish elections and I do wonder why that is because now it seems that Labour will have control

[334s] as the major party in the parishes.

[337s] If money, resources and planning were no object what one thing would you build or create for the people of Eastleigh?

[347s] I would build a park and ride.

[349s] Parking in Eastle is abysmal and the town centre is badly in need of regeneration which is something that the Conservative Party have got a good plan for.

[358s] A park and ride would not only help commuters, congestion, parking but also enable exciting retail opportunities and farmers markets and a big Christmas

[368s] market celebration and would also bring a lot of external investment into the area.

[373s] Without limitations or barriers to spending or planning, if I had to pick just one thing, there are many I could pick from,

[382s] but if it was just 1, it would be a comprehensive cycling network.

[385s] I think people are afraid to cycle, they don't feel safe on the roads.

[390s] So if we had a cycling Network, people would get out.

[393s] There are multiple benefits from that.

[395s] People would be healthier, not just from being more active, but also lower air pollution, better air quality.

[404s] And also people would save money on fuel, which is going up now, obviously.

[407s] I do think we need to be realistic though.

[410s] There isn't a magic money tree and we to spend money wisely.

[415s] We need make sure that every pot of money is spent with multiple benefits in mind for the local community.

[422s] If money was no object or any other things were in the way, I'd really like to resurrect the chicken or link road and railway station.

[434s] Chonless Ford railway Station has been extremely successful and I think one further in Easter suburbs would be ideal.

[442s] If there's any money left over I would like a proper town hall like the one we used to have which had everything from beer festivals to dog shows.

[453s] at the moment we have absolutely nothing at all like that.

[456s] How do you think you could help with the housing without building more?

[460s] Is there anything the current council are missing as it seems we're building and yet still not enough?

[465s] Why is that?

[469s] There's a few things that would help Looking at the empty housing in the area and seeing how it can be brought into use is one.

[476s] Another would be to consider houses of multiple occupancy which are on the rise in private sector, so there is definitely a demand there.

[484s] In general, I don't think the mix of housing is right.

[487s] First time buyers do not have a lot of opportunity, neither do families out borrowing their first homes.

[492s] The percentages of social housing and development should be much higher.

[497s] I think we've had enough of development over recent years.

[499s] I would like to see a pause and a sense check whilst we invest in infrastructure and let that catch up.

[505s] The rate of developments over the recent year is alarming and it needs challenging.

[511s] I do think we need to rethink house building and planning.

[515s] I think that we have to develop it around the 10 minute town concept.

[521s] We need build and plan in a way that is based around people and communities and not around cars and roads.

[527s] There are multiple benefits from this.

[530s] People become more active.

[532s] It is good for mental and physical health.

[535s] traffic's reduced, air quality's improved, it's good for local businesses, and people engage with their neighbors more.

[542s] Linked to this, we need to ensure that there's new services and infrastructure with any planning and make sure developers probably pay this towards this.

[551s] So things like doctors, community centres, schools and quality green space as well.

[559s] We definitely need more social housing, we need properties to be properly insulated and energy efficient, We need to address empty houses and we needs

[569s] to support renters who are currently being squeezed out of home ownership.

[573s] Housing or lack of housing has always been a problem since probably the cavemen and it's difficult to build more and more houses with less and less land.

[585s] However, there are several derelict properties in Eastleigh, or indeed empty properties.

[590s] I know of one which has been empty for over ten years, which is disgraceful.

[594s] The council should do more.

[596s] But I think the council could do about freeing up these properties and also making houses into maisonettes with smaller accommodation for single people

[608s] which there is a complete lack of in the Eastle.

[611s] Single people happen to If your constituents were overwhelmingly opposed to something the council or your party had proposed,

[621s] would you a.

[622s] try to convince them it was a good idea, b.

[625s] support them, or c.

[627s] something else?

[628s] Explain.

[630s] My purpose as a Councillor is to represent the residents of Eastley North.

[635s] I can promise you that I am not someone who would ever accept being told how to vote.

[641s] i will support residents and remain approachable and accessible and open to their views.

[647s] Any decisions that i make i am accountable for and i'll communicate them effectively to the community i represent.

[656s] So you're never going to agree with everyone all of the time.

[659s] If it's something that I truly believed in, I would put my case forward and try to argue my point.

[665s] But I'd also equally make myself available to have a discussion and an open debate with anyone who had a different perspective so that we can understand

[674s] the different ways that are seeing something and hopefully come to some kind of understanding where we do agree on a way forward.

[681s] An MP's first duty is to his constituents, including those who haven't voted for him or her and those who haven't voted at all I don't see why local councillors

[692s] should be any different.

[694s] If I was elected and the people that I represented wanted something that i didn't agree with I would have to honour my pledge and do as they ask.

[708s] I certainly wouldn't try and change their minds My son has had four sets of antibiotics for a tooth that needs to be extracted but he can't get an appointment

[723s] at a local dentist until February 2023. How are you going to tackle the dentist crisis, long waiting lists and lack of trained dentists?

[734s] That's dreadful.

[735s] I am a mother of three school-aged children myself and would be distraught to see them in such a situation.

[741s] As a borough counsellor helping you raise awareness, helping to get your MP support and pushing back on overdevelopment and thus strain on dental waiting

[751s] lists would be what would achievable in that capacity.

[753s] I understand that there is an injection of government funding coming to tackle the waiting list caused by the pandemic but if your son is in pain,

[761s] call 111 and seek some emergency dental treatment.

[765s] So this is a terrible situation to be in and I'm really sorry to hear this.

[770s] Dental services are controlled by central government rather than local government.

[775s] And I think this was just another case of where the NHS in general is being underfunded.

[780s] It's this progress towards privatisation that pushes costs up for local people and undermines the NHS and the services it provides.

[790s] In the long term, we need to provide more support for people who want to become dentists and dental hygienists.

[796s] In short term we have to be open to those skills coming in from outside of the local area.

[802s] Dentistry in general has been run down by successive Tory governments over many years.

[808s] We are now in the position of people having to either go private, which for many is simply unaffordable, or to suffer in agony.

[817s] There's not much that a local town council can do about it so I urge you all to vote at the next general election and get this Tory government out and

[826s] a Labour government in.

[827s] As there is a climate emergency, where should we build more houses?

[831s] What mix of social, affordable, open market would you propose?

[837s] I think I may have covered this answer slightly in a previous question so i'll try not to repeat myself.

[843s] Redevelopment of existing properties and use of brownfield sites is key.

[847s] There is a lot of commercial use property that could be converted to mixed use schemes, that can be great micro communities.

[856s] I would like to see an absolute ban on any greenfield development for the next five years whilst we analyse the requirement and let infrastructure catch up.

[864s] So there is a climate emergency and there's also a linked biodiversity crisis where we're losing nature.

[868s] And this is probably the biggest threat to humanity.

[873s] There needs to be far more emphasis on social housing and affordable housing.

[878s] I think in any planning for new development or redevelopment, it needs be around the 10 minute town concept and properties that are properly insulated

[888s] and energy efficient.

[890s] Again, housing is a difficult question as to where to build.

[893s] Perhaps we could build less car showrooms and coffee shops and build houses, affordable social housing for those that need it.

[902s] There are, as I've said, empty properties in Eastley that should be utilised.

[908s] The target is to have a 70% social or affordable housing where any developments are built and that is our target.

[918s] If you don't get elected what's the biggest thing represents we'll miss out on?

[926s] The impact I can make will be limited.

[929s] At the moment in meetings I'm limited to speaking as a member of the public.

[932s] if I get selected then I will have a seat at the table, a voice in the debate and crucially a vote in any decisions.

[939s] If you bring a matter that's in the remit of a borough councillor, such as council tax, fly tipping, waste, housing, car parks,

[947s] anti-social behaviour to me at parish, I'll only be able to pass on those issues on your behalf.

[952s] If your elect me, then I can do something about it myself.

[956s] So if I'm not elected, people will miss out on someone with a fresh new perspective, a different way of looking at things,

[963s] and someone who looks at the world with community and planet-first approach.

[969s] If I am not selected, the residents of Eastley North will lose someone that is local, who is passionate about Eastle and trying to make the Eastly a better

[979s] place for all of us.

[980s] But don't get elected.

[982s] Don't worry.

[982s] I'll be back next time.

[989s] one that's called anything you like to say.

[995s] Thank you for caring about who you vote for enough to watch this video and doing your research.

[999s] And thank you to Adam for giving us candidates the opportunity to take part.

[1003s] At the time of recording, I'm aware that I might be the only candidate you're hearing from in Easty North, which I'll let you draw your own conclusions from.

[1011s] Turnout at local elections is very low, much lower than at general elections.

[1015s] But it is these local election that choose people sitting on the council Making choices that impact the services you see and use every day,

[1022s] such as housing, transport, public spaces.

[1025s] Your single vote is more likely to make an impact on the result.

[1029s] At this level, it shouldn't really matter what colour rosette we are wearing.

[1032s] It should matter that you elect the person that YOU think will do a good job of representing you.

[1036s] The person if you write to them, you think they will respond and do something about it.

[1041s] When you are having a problem, YOU want to fight your battle.

[1045s] I think that person is me.

[1046s] And if you agree, then please come out and put an X next to my name, Lisa Crosha on May the 5th.

[1052s] If there's one last thing I could add, I'd say thank you very much for watching and listening.

[1057s] Um, if there was one thing that I can ask you to do, please vote.

[1059s] Even if don't vote for me, do go and vote, thanks very.

[1062s] Much.

[1063s] Finally, millions of people in the world have no right to vote some that do don t really have any choice in a candidate they can vote We are lucky,

[1074s] we're able to vote and we should use our vote.

[1077s] I urge you all to remind your neighbours, friends, family to go out and vote, even on national elections, turnout is sometimes pretty poor and as we all know,

[1090s] local elections are even poorer turnouts.

[1094s] It's your vote, you must use it.

[1096s] And a song once said, a nation gets the government it deserves.

[1101s] In this case, easily deserves better.