I live in Hatherleigh and have lived and worked for 35 years throughout the South West as a land manager, in both the public and private sectors, for the Ministry of Defence. The Hatherleigh and Chagford ward’s character of remarkable countryside, small towns and villages with a mix of agriculture and industry poses particular local issues. However it is these characteristics that make it a marvellous area to have the privilege in which to live.

The area’s strong tradition of hard working communities face new post Brexit and pandemic challenges at a time of increased environmental responsibility and change.

The Labour Manifesto for Devon County Council Elections 2021 https://devon.laboursites.org/manifesto/ sets six key objectives for the next four years: • Promote enterprise; • Tackle the climate and ecological emergency; • Improve Devon’s health and social care services; • Promote public health; • Support nurseries, schools, colleges and universities; • Establish county wide fast broadband connection.

Much has been, and continues to be, said on the ‘Levelling Up’ of regions but for too long rural areas and country towns of the South West and their support have been taken for granted.
Locally our economy, environment and communities face new challenges during this time of change and changes to come.

♦ Management of our countryside, natural environment and agriculture is moving to new support systems. It is far from clear how these systems will function and how they will impact farmers and wildlife.
♦ Climate objectives to reduce emissions to net zero in widespread community’s dependant on fossil fuels pose particular infrastructure issues.
♦ Transport and the decline of services outside of London was highlighted by the NAO in 2020. A fair share of the funding being allocated to partly redress this must be fought for to work towards an integrated transport strategy across Devon.
♦ Industry and our key service industries in hospitality, tourism and retail face the new rediscovered value of local but at a time of increasing online shopping and remote working.
♦ Health, wellbeing, and social care has been thrown sharply into focus by the pandemic at a time of reorganisation nationally with an emphasis on protection from infectious diseases. It is unclear how budgets tackling health inequalities locally will be affected by this.
♦ Children and young people face challenges in a fragmented education system in one of the worst funded local authorities in England.

Fairer funding for Devon is a Labour priority to redress the shortfall in resources allocation brought about by central Government calculation methods.

If elected as a Labour Councillor for the ward I will work to advance Labour’s objectives and develop consensus across the council to build on initiatives already in place, develop new initiatives in order to support Devon and advance local needs.