James Pett is the Conservative candidate for the Wescott East Wokingham Town Council by-election on Thursday 24 August. He writes:
Wokingham is a town that I very proudly call my home, and I am never surprised that so many people, from around the world want to come and live here.
Over the last 15 years, Wokingham residents have all invested a great deal of time and suffered significant inconvenience to breathe new life into our town centre, build new schools, and create new green spaces – all aimed at nurturing progress and making our community a better place for everyone to live.
It's therefore disheartening to witness this hard-won progress undermined by short-sighted choices and flawed economic decisions.
We all notice it – the overgrown grass verges, litter strewn about. It's not the impression of our community that we want visitors to have, and it's certainly not how we want to live. The result? Foxes, vermin and ticks, not the thriving environment we aimed for. Overflowing bins and piled-up waste – it's a far cry from what we expect after paying our significant amounts of council tax. Our investments deserve much better management.
And then there's the head-scratcher of the increased parking charges. It costs less to park and shop in Woodley than in Wokingham town centre. It's a bitter pill to swallow, especially as we see our local businesses suffer due to decreased foot traffic. Wokingham is vibrant, catering to all ages with its array of activities. It's a healthy and desirable place to live. Yet, we're confronted with short-sighted policies that seem to disregard our collective voice.
It's time for a change.
I can't stand by and watch our community lose its shine. Our investment deserves a vibrant, well-maintained environment – one that we can be proud of. But reality paints a different picture. Our streets deserve regular attention, our bins should be collected, and our infrastructure upheld – it's what we've paid for.
As a proud member of this community, I can't idly watch as our progress crumbles. Our town's legacy is at stake. I'm stepping up, not just because I'm proud of our community, but because I believe in taking action to preserve what we've built.
This isn't about eloquent promises; it's about practical solutions. I'm committed to reversing the damage inflicted by short-sighted decisions. Let's focus on building a stronger community – one where our hard-earned taxes translate into the services we rightfully deserve. We can't let our community fade away. We can't let others decide the fate of the place we call home. Together, we can set a new course – one that upholds our progress and retains the charm that defines Wokingham.
It's time to stand up and take action, to ensure that our community's promise remains alive and well for generations to come. My vision is clear: a community where our investments translate into tangible improvements, where our streets are clean, and our infrastructure is well-maintained.
If you are someone who shares in this vision, I urge you to take action and use your Wescott East by-election vote for me on Thursday 24 August at St Crispin's Polling Station.
