On Thursday May 4th Eastover will have the chance to vote for 3 councillors -Town, District and County. For County your Labour candidate is Dave Loveridge, for District it’s Chelsea Chadwick and for Town it’s Tony Heywood. To make sure Eastover and Bridgwater have the strongest possible voice please make sure Labour members are returned at all levels of Local Government.
Bridgwater Labour Party has always had a strong base in Eastover and Labour Councillors have represented the people at all levels. These are the key issues facing us in this part of town.
20’s Plenty on our streets
The Labour Town Council has launched a campaign for 20mph speed limit on roads close to schools. Eastover residents have been clear that the roads around Polden street and Wellington road are a priority for this and we will further ensure that the Police enforce the 3T weight limit.
Policing Matters in Bridgwater
Bridgwater is seeing a spate of anti-social behavior from town centre harassment to boy racers screeching around Eastover. The Labour town council takes these issues seriously and liaises closely with the Police to ensure community safety and crime protection for people in Bridgwater. Labour opposes the Tory Government’s cuts to our Police Service and will campaign at all levels to get them reversed.
Jobs, Training and Business
Eastover has some of the towns major workplaces here and so the working life of this part of town is crucial. Labour will back the development of Apprenticeship training with Businesses and with Bridgwater and Taunton College. We will encourage the development of Labour Force Agreements with Bridgwater Employers to employ and give opportunities to local people and we will reinforce the need, along with the Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce, for local businesses to take up supply chain opportunities for Hinkley C. Labour will support small businesses as a fundamental way to achieve Economic Growth and new jobs
Eastover Regeneration
Eastover has often been seen as an afterthought to the Town centre but in reality it’s a key commercial area with the main points of entry, road,rail and bus ,all arriving in our town here. With the introduction of 2 major hotels in this part of town it has a great opportunity for regeneration. Labour will use Hinkley C mitigation funding to improve the roads, pavements and general access to the Town Centre by focusing on the long awaited Celebration mile, from the Railway Station to Bridgwater Docks which will make the shopping area more attractive , the through routes more user friendly and wi=hich will see Eastover regenerated and an acknowledged part of Bridgwater Town Centre..
Railway Station Enhancement
Bridgwater Railway station is facing major enhancements which Labour has supported, but we will make sure the design and construction work is completed in 2018. We support the campaign for increased ticket office opening hours, including Sunday opening and we have consistently argued for integrated public transport so that busses and trains can link up at the station..
Opposing Tory Austerity
The Tories have been ravaging our communities with a blatant policy of Austerity ever since the Lib Dems let them back into Government in 2010 and their policies are hurting. Local Councils have been cut back and back and many people are struggling to cope. Labour will work with the Council and other services to support people adversely affected by Universal Credit and Debt. We will make sure that funding and advice is available for those vulnerable people who are displaced and homeless. Labour will always support hard working people who have been hurt by Tory Welfare Reform
Attractive Neighbourhoods and Affordable Homes
As our town grows housing is needed but communities need to benefit from this and the environment protected. Labour will make sure that housing developments such as on the Cattle Market site is at affordable rents, and we will insist on links between the developer and housing associations so that it includes proper parking, 2 spaces minimum per house. As the lowest lying urban ward, Eastover also needs proper flood prevention measures and with more housing development comes the need for the improvement and enhancement of green spaces, such as Cranleigh Gardens. Labour is committed to protecting the green lungs of our town.