ELECTIONS: What we will do for you - the 5 local leaders set out their stalls

We’re a town on the up — let’s make sure we keep it that way

Coun David Renard Conservative leader

UNDER the Conservatives, Swindon is a town on the up.

Building on the huge investments we have already secured for Swindon, we will work with businesses, the Local Enterprise Partnership, Government and others to grow the economy further so we can invest in our borough’s infrastructure and ensure it is a great place to live, work and play and a place in which we can all take pride.

The regeneration of the town centre will see further improvements, including a new bus interchange, and we will work with the developers of schemes to increase the appeal of Swindon as a destination and to deliver high quality developments.

Our heritage is important and we will work with private, public and voluntary partners to protect our cultural assets and ensure it can be showcased in the best possible way.

We will invest more in our roads and infrastructure and we will work with the next Government to secure additional investment over and above the £120m already committed.

The council will maintain its policy of keeping council tax as low as possible.

Our programme of providing additional school places will continue and will include two new free schools for secondary aged pupils.

We aim to maintain our record of providing over 98 per cent of families with one of their preferred schools.

Protecting children and adults from abuse is paramount and social care will remain our area of highest investment.

On May 7, I urge voters to support their Conservative candidates to ensure the continued success of our wonderful borough.

We'll spend wisely and look after those in need

Coun Jim Grant
Labour Group Leader

VOTE for Labour first and foremost because we have excellent candidates who wish to represent local communities on the council. 

On the council we will ensure that in very tough budgetary times, it still spends our council taxes on things most important to us. 

And looking after our elderly, disabled and vulnerable young people will be our highest priority. 
We will also pay the living wage to council staff and will insist that any company that wishes to gain a council contract is also a living wage employer. 

Ensuring we have housing available for future generations in Swindon is a priority for Labour. 
We will ensure there is more affordable housing built, with a minimum of 300 affordable houses completed each year. 

Together with housing, new infrastructure is important. 

We will do all we can to ensure that Swindon has adequate infrastructure to meet the continued growth of our town. 

We will do this by lobbying the next government hard for funding for the Thamesdown Drive Extension Road and ensuring we get infrastructure in place for the emerging developments in Swindon at the start, not the end of those developments. 

Finally, we want to bring about a cultural transformation of Swindon, by building an iconic art gallery for the town, restoring the Locarno and the Mechanics’ Institute and reintroducing some of Swindon’s great cultural events which bring residents together, like the Mela.  

We love Swindon and believe it is a town full of potential and we want to ensure it’s a potential fulfilled. 

We believe in a fresh approach to politics

Andy Bentley Green Party spokesman

For the first time in Swindon every voter has the chance to vote Green in the national and local elections. But why vote Green?

Are you tired of the politics of the past?

Do you:

• Believe the wealthy should pay their fair share?
• Believe in reversing the privatisation of schools and the NHS?
• Believe the weak and vulnerable should not be made to pay for the greed of bankers?
• Believe that migrants make a valuable contribution to life in the UK?

Elected Greens across the UK stand up for the people they represent.

• The Green MEP for Swindon, Molly Scott Cato, has won concessions for microbusinesses hit by new European VAT rules, and campaigned with other Green MEPs for a full inquiry into the scandal of corporate tax avoidance.

• Green MP Caroline Lucas has introduced legislation to roll back privatisation of the NHS, renationalise the railways, provide personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) in schools and oppose fracking. She voted against the bedroom tax.

• Green councillors across the country are delivering: l Better school results in Brighton, (80% of sixth forms and colleges are good or outstanding).

•  A £12 million, energy efficiency programme will create local jobs in Stroud.

•  £300,000 of free home insulation for older residents in Bradford.
•  Over 800 homes brought back into use and 389 affordable homes built in Brighton, and all council construction contracts now include apprenticeships and training schemes.

If you believe in real change, for the common good, vote Green.

We understand and support local people

John Short UKIP leader

UKIP has become a political force in Swindon over the last two years under my leadership.

The reason for voting UKIP is its awareness of local issues and the need to connect with local people and understand their requirements. Under my leadership UKIP is very much aware of the way in which the council operates and is more than capable of enforcing budget constraints while delivering first class services.

My experience as corporate director of services and deputy chief executive gives myself much more experience in local issues. Furthermore I am not a career politician and would put my time and effort in ensuring Swindon was first and foremost in any way necessary.

UKIP will offer alternative policies to the two main parties; this would cover areas of environment, planning, local businesses, housing, highways, education and social services. There is a clear case for both local authority and private sectors to work together to enhance Swindon’s future.

I have lived in Swindon for 28 years and worked for the local authority for 20 years.

It would be my clear aim to ensure Swindon’s people were represented at every level of government.

I am a member of Covingham Parish Council and chair of the Highways Committee, so I do understand local issues.

The need to understand local health issues which are very much at the heart of local people from concerns with GWH and local factors (GPs) need urgent revision along with mental health and social services.

Please consider voting UKIP in both the general and local elections to get true and sincere politicians.

We will involve residents at every turn

Coun Stan Pajak Liberal Democrat leader

EVERY election is important and the council elections on May 7 are no exception.

Taking place on the day of the General Election, they could determine not only who runs but perhaps more importantly how our council is run.

The Liberal Democrat position is crystal clear, putting Swindon and its people first and politics second.

We will not play party politics when the stakes are so high.

Every financial decision amid reducing resources and dramatically increasing needs has to be justified.

In such a situation there has to be working together across political groups and services.

The One Swindon partnership is a clear example of this in action.

Putting Swindon first is all about making our town more attractive to its residents and business.

At long last we are seeing a redevelopment of the town centre.

This has to be matched with preserving our wonderful heritage and keeping and enhancing our country parks.

For the Liberal Democrats this means supporting not only the proposal for a new museum and art gallery but preserving and utilising our heritage buildings such as the Mechanics’ and the Old Town Locarno.

It means letting residents decide more how the council spends its money where they live through more money going to localities.

It means freezing council tax whilst protecting and enhancing our green spaces such as Lydiard Park.

It means having enough secondary schools for the future, and in the right places.

A highways infrastructure that matches the town’s growth and equal support for the alternatives to the car such as buses and cycling.

It means using the Government money launched with the visit of Nick Clegg to Swindon for more homes and a new bus station.

Our services have to be geared to the people they serve with schools and provision for the elderly clear priorities.

Above all, our council needs to be a listening council.

Consultations should involve residents at the earliest stage, councillor standards should be high and we should be engaging residents in everything we do.

Every Lib Dem councillor elected makes the clear commitment of putting residents first, keeping in touch and making sure we get things done.