Ashfield Neighbour News has put questions to the candidates in the two constituencies that cover the Ashfield district: Sherwood Forest, which includes Hucknall; and Ashfield, which includes the rest of the district and a small part of Mansfield.
These are the responses of Lee Waters, an Independent candidate for Sherwood Forest. Click here to see other responses in Sherwood Forest, or here to see the responses from candidates in Ashfield.
We began by inviting all candidates to set out their pitch:
As your new MP, I will be an Independent who is only answerable to local people. I have already shown as a leading member of Ashfield District Council that I will stand up and deliver results for the people of Hucknall.
I have led the Levelling Up bid for our town – our desperate Tory MP Mark Spencer heavily criticised the bid – but then claimed credit for it when it was successful. I have protected our green spaces under threat – not just from government housing targets but also under threat from Labour-run Gedling Council and am fighting for better health provision.
If elected, I will carry out regular advice surgeries – something Mark Spencer never did until the election. I will continue to fight to save our green spaces, under threat from both the Conservatives and Labour parties. I will fight to deliver the investment our towns and villages deserve. Politics has a bad name and more people are saying they want an Independent choice who will put them first.
I live in the constituency, I am bringing up my family in the constituency and will lead the fight to continue my track record of delivering for our constituency. Neither the Tories or Labour candidates can say that.
I am the only candidate who is fighting on local issues. Day after day, we are receiving franked mail from Tories and Labour. In places like Blidworth, Hucknall and Rainworth, people always say they know when there is an election because they start receiving leaflets from the tired old parties. Only Independents work all year round. If elected as your MP, I will lead the fight for a safer, healthier and green Sherwood Forest.
We asked the candidates to list the three main issues they are hearing from local voters, and how they would deal with these
- Crime and Fear of Crime
Both the Conservatives and Labour must accept responsibility. It’s not rocket science to understand that a visible police presence deters criminals. In Hucknall, where I live, spotting a copper is a novelty. Labour shut our police station on Watnall Road and that has led to them virtually disappearing. What we need is a return to visible community policing in places like Blidworth, Hucknall and Rainworth and this is something I will fight for as your MP. - Access to healthcare
You simply cannot get a GP appointment or NHS dentist. We were promised a new super health centre on West Street in Hucknall but the NHS tell us they simply do not have any money left. They tell us that the Conservative government cannot even deliver on the 40 new hospitals they promised in 2019 – never mind a new health centre. If elected, delivering facilities with access to NHS dentists will be a huge priority. - Building on our green belt
As a councillor, I have worked with residents against building on Whyburn Farm and other building on green belt. This has a massive impact on services. It’s clear that we will have a new Labour Government on 5 July – I worry that the Labour Party will pursue their ambition to concrete over green spaces. My concern is that the Labour candidate is a member of Gedling Council who are dumping houses right on the Hucknall border. Her track record is a shameful one and I hope she commits to protecting the green spaces we all hold so dear.
One of the roles an MP has is an ambassadorial function for the constituency. We asked the candidates to set out what they thought the biggest selling point for Sherwood Forest constituency is when describing the area to outsiders.
Sherwood Forest is the beating heart of England and home world famous woodland and of course the home of Robin Hood. Like me, Robin Hood did it his way and put the poor at the heart of everything he did. The Conservatives and Labour Parties do the opposite and this is shameful. We need to do more to attract tourists and make sure our area is in the best shape. That’s why as your MP, I will lead the fight to protect our open spaces, improve public transport and lead the fight to fix our shameful broken roads and pavements.
We asked the candidates a little cheeky question: to let us know a little-known fact about them that people might find interesting?
Nigel Farage once presented me with an award for being a community champion.
And we finished with a difficult question: if they and their party weren’t standing in the election, which of the remaining candidates would they vote for? No idea. Depending on his policies maybe Jeremy [Spry], the other Independent. As I believe communities are better served by Independents.
