THE Liberal Democrats in St Helens have made their pitch to voters ahead of Thursday's local elections.
The St Helens Liberal Democrats group has described Thursday’s local elections in St Helens as "the most important in a generation".
The party claims the Labour-run council "has failed St Helens and its residents" and said "it's time for a change".
The Liberal Democrats are currently the second-biggest party on the council with four seats in the chamber, three from Eccleston ward and one in Newton.
Lib Dem St Helens group leader Cllr Teresa Sims is seeking to defend her seat in Eccleston while former council leader Brian Spencer is standing in Bold ward.
Brian Spencer
The party has pledged that, if elected, its representatives would be "a local champion who will get things done in your community" and said residents would "get a cleaner, greener community where local people are listened to".
The Lib Dems say their main priorities for St Helens include putting communities back at the heart of decision making and defending the green belt from what it described as "Labour’s disgraceful land grab through its Local Plan". They cited the Parkside proposals which the party says "will have a devastating impact on Newton".
Other issues the group are prioritising include fixing the pothole-riddled roads and pavements, and investing in sustainable transport with a focus on cycling and electric vehicles and getting the local economy back on its feet after the pandemic, supporting local businesses and high streets.
The Lib Dems pledged to develop a "locally-led green economy", creating jobs and securing investment that delivers sustainable growth without building on green belt land and to take a lead in tackling the climate emergency, and striving to make St Helens carbon neutral by 2040.
READ > Local elections 2021: All St Helens candidates announced
Other main priorities would include tree planting across all communities and enhancing the local environment and protecting the health of residents and supporting carers.
Teresa Sims
Cllr Teresa Sims, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on St Helens Council, said: "This local election is all about who residents have trust and confidence in to represent them in St Helens Town Hall.
"Our party keeps in touch all year round with our regular FOCUS newsletters, which we have been delivering to residents across St Helens for many years, including my ward of Eccleston. Sitting alongside the FOCUS newsletter, we also deliver local street letters, undertake door-knocking sessions, hold public meetings and organise cleanups/litter picks to try and keep our local area clean and tidy.
"We believe that only by listening to and working with residents can we address the issues that matter most in our community. So, on May 6, people have a fantastic opportunity to back their community by supporting people who believe in their community, people who will act for and with their community – their Liberal Democrat candidate."
The list of Liberal Democrat candidates standing for election are:
- Teresa Sims – Eccleston
- Brian Spencer – Bold
- Phil Cass – Newton
- Frederick Barrett – Sutton
- David Kent – Moss Bank
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