Kit Twinch to fight in Wickham, for a better Suffolk

Kit Twinch is the Liberal Democrat candidate for the County Council election in Wickham electoral division.

Born in Suffolk, Kit was brought up in Norfolk before his family returned to farm in the Framlingham / Saxmundham area. Kit is descended from several generations of Suffolk farmers. In the late 1990s he switched from agriculture to arboriculture. He and his wife spent time in New Zealand, where Kit worked as an arborist before they and their two young children came home to Suffolk.

Kit says: "For me, it's all about allowing people to have their say. It's important that councillors get feedback from the people they represent. If elected, I will hold regular surgeries in the larger villages in Wickham electoral division, so that residents can share their views. I also plan to use household surveys to clarify important issues."

Transport

Wickham electoral division is relatively poorly served by public transport. Melton and Campsea Ash have railway stations, but there are just two bus routes through our area, and buses are infrequent. Lack of public transport marginalises the young and the old. Public transport needs to be more accessible, and timed to suit its users. We shouldn't have to go online to find out when the bus might arrive, or when we will be able to get home. And we shouldn't be charging young people for their transport to school or college, before they become economically active.

Housing

Kit spent more than six years working in town planning. He knows how hard it is to provide enough housing in the right place at the right price. There are no easy solutions, but Kit says it is important to involve the local community and businesses in planning decisions, as well as working with the district council (now based at East Suffolk House, Melton).

Mobile and broadband

Even in our larger villages, mobile coverage and broadband provision can be shockingly poor. We need a good mobile signal and decent broadband. Improving these services is vital for the rural economy, as well as for the ability of individuals to take part in modern life.

Children and young people

Education is important to Lib Dems. Kit Twinch is campaigning to put enough money into the system to fund the needs of every child, as well as to invest in teachers and other professionals offering support. With family experience of autism, Kit knows that education is not "one size fits all". Support should be available according to the needs of each individual child. And it should be accessible everywhere in the county.

Fix our roads

Potholes! It's not just the risk to our suspension that is a problem. When trying to avoid defects, our attention is distracted from other road users and pedestrians. Our highways urgently need investment. We need to draw on the council's extensive reserves to tackle road safety issues.

Source:

Reproduced from Wickham Focus, April 2017