VOTERS will go to the polls in the Local Elections tomorrow (Thursday May 4).
A third of Rugby Borough Council’s 42 seats are up for grabs. The council is currently controlled by the Conservatives with 23 councillors. The Labour group has ten councillors, and the Liberal Democrat group has nine.
Voters are reminded they will need to take photo ID to polling stations in order to vote. Visit www.gov.uk/how-to-vote/photo-id-youll-need for a list of accepted forms of ID.
Here, the four main parties contesting the election outline their plans.
THE CONSERVATIVES are presenting a strategy for the regeneration of the town centre, more employment in the town, and improvements to parks and play areas.
Rugby Borough Council leader Coun Seb Lowe said: “We have a regeneration strategy, which we have backed with £5million worth of investment to begin the regeneration process and bring new businesses, new events, and more homes to our town.
“There is no magic wand we can wave to make our town centre thrive again overnight. What we can do is put in place the conditions to change the use of our town centre – refocusing it around leisure, eating out, and homes. We have already started to receive approaches from major investors looking to invest in our town centre as a direct result of our strategy.
“Throughout our time in office we have done everything possible to keep council tax as low as possible whilst protecting public services. In our most recent budget we committed to freezing green bin charges at the current level. We will never spend taxpayers’ money without knowing that it will benefit the people of Rugby.
“We have already committed to a refurbishment of all children’s play areas in the borough, and with your support we will be able to continue to prioritise our parks and build on the work we have done improving hedges and pathways in Rugby, making it easier for people to get around by walking or cycling.
“There is a reason that so many families and businesses choose to make our town their home. We want to build on this success to make Rugby even better. We have laid the foundations for the transformation of our borough, and are the only party with a credible and realistic plan to see that transformation through.”
LABOUR has made five pledges on how the party aims to ‘Renew Rugby Together’ after nearly 20 years of Conservative rule.The party says it will restore pride in the town protect and improve the environment, improve local health and public services, focus on education and youth engagement, and ensure housing is for the community, not developers.
A spokesperson said: “Labour encourage owners of buildings to improve the look of the town centre, work with volunteer groups and businesses, and bring in investment and partnerships to restore our town.
“We would reverse the Conservatives’ recent decision to open up a new Rugby Local Plan that will risk more development on the Green Belt.
“Labour will work to improve health provision at St Cross Hospital and ensure more GP surgeries are built to match the growing population of our town.”
The party added it would move forward with a new secondary school in the north of the borough, create a unit to match services to amenities, enforce better agreements with developers to make provisions, and accelerate plans for a Youth Forum to bring the borough’s young people into the policy-making process.
On housing, Labour said it would limit the over-concentration of HMOs in urban wards, use agreements with developers to ensure more affordable housing, and accelerate the Council’s property acquisition strategy and social/council house building schemes to deliver affordable homes.
Labour Group leader Coun Maggie O’Rourke said: “Our candidates reflect the diversity and talent that our borough is rightly proud of, and all have the energy, ambition, and know-how to make a difference for residents across the borough.
“We believe in Rugby and we want voters to feel proud of their town and borough once again. Each pledge is backed by positive polices we will implement.”
Visit www.rugbylabour.co.uk to read Labour’s manifesto.
THE LIBERAL Democrats say they want to see a ‘fairer, caring, greener council, listening and giving a voice to those who are often overlooked’.The party said it would work with GPs to reduce pressure on emergency services and prevent 12 hour waits for medical attention, and fight for greater emergency care at St Cross Hospital.
It pledged to invest in local youth and mental health services and, working with the police and other agencies, invest and support local community led initiatives.
A spokesperson added: “We campaign to see the end of windy bus stops in North Street, with wider pavements and a viable bus and coach interchanges with off road cycle routes which are destination led and not added on as an afterthought within the planning process.”
They added the Lib Dems would invest more in renewable energy schemes, particularly in accommodation for the elderly and people with a disability – “so the council would never again have to inflict 258 per cent service charge increases on some of the most vulnerable residents in the borough.
“Liberal Democrats will continue to press for biodiversity gain especially with the reopening of a new Local Plan for Rugby. We will ensure planning puts residients first and not developers profits. We will always campaign for a cleaner, greener and safer environment and invest in a climate change hub in the town centre linked to health and wellbeing advice for residents.
“Liberal Democrats have a reputation for successfully getting Councillors to co-operate and collaborate on projects – it leads to better governance and delivers shared responsibilities.”
Lib Dem Group Leader Coun Jerry Roodhouse added: “Every Liberal Democrat vote will go towards our priorities – young people matter, a greener Borough matters and working in genuine partnership matters.”
THE GREEN Party is campaigning for ‘a greener future in a town which works for all’.The party’s manifesto includes plans to bring empty homes back into use, and provide free insulation, solar panels and self-energy producing items for all rented homes and communities.
It says Green Councillors would demand planning decisions to protect the Borough and County while arguing for family homes at affordable prices, to prevent open spaces and wildlife ‘being sacrificed to speculative building development’.
To tackle climate change, the Greens propose to create a Cabinet position and lead officer for Climate Action and Biodiversity.
The party says it will open an indoor market with ‘affordable fees’ for market traders, promote ‘pop-up’ shops, and offer Business Rate relief to new independent traders with less than six employees.
The Greens have pledged to protect open and public spaces from speculative developers and demand action on air quality in the Borough.
On transport, the party wants to introduce a 20mph speed limit in all residential areas, increase the frequency of bus services, push for the proposed new Rugby Parkway train station near Houlton, and improve cycling infrastructure – prioritising the A428 between Rugby and Coventry.
A spokesperson said: “Rugby Green Party has a vision of a confident thriving town with an economically and ecologically sustainable economy.
“Green Party Councillors on Warwickshire County Council are already tackling everyday issues from helping new business start ups, to reducing council excess, to ensuring fair wages for young council employees, showing that a Green voice can make a difference.
“Vote Green Party to ensure you have representatives to challenge the Council on the most important issue in Rugby for years ahead.”
Visit https://tinyurl.com/mr35nyfa to read the full manifesto.
