January 28th, 2012
#BrentwoodWest 2012 Lib Dem Candidate announced
Comment?
It’s me!
Yes, as it turns out my “retirement from politics” didn’t last more than a few weeks and, still immensely troubled by the way those 29 Tories (and their Labour chum) are running our town, I wasn’t actually away for very long. I missed you residents, I missed getting results for you and I didn’t really feel like you had a borough councillor fighting for you on those important issues like housing problems, planning and environmental concerns.
So I decided that, with just ten votes in it, I would fight another day! This decision was made some months ago and was official as of 1st December 2011.
Last week’s defection has left you without any Lib Dem representation at borough level in Brentwood West and that’s just not on – not for the 1548 who voted for him on general election day or the 948 that voted for me in 2011. I think it is also important that you have someone who is focused on Brentwood West – from the tower blocks of Masefield Court to the town houses of Greensleeves Drive and from the Victorian houses in Crescent Road to the modern properties in Hillside Walk – and not principally on their business and the Crown Street traders. I care about the town, and will support our independent traders like I always have done, but residents and their concerns were and always would be my main priority as your councillor.
Even the defector described me as “one of the most hard-working councillors” and here are just a few things I did when I was:
- Saving Warley Hill Post office: Shortly after I was elected in 2007, this facility was due for closure. I analysed the report comprehensively, highlighting a number of issues and errors that led to a re-think.
- Fighting against over-development: Although tied by being on the planning committee, I fought with residents against over-development, especially in Clements Park and Rollason Way. I am pleased that I highlighted the issues and the seven storey residential block was turned down. I am still fighting another one with residents now!
- Fought against speeding traffic, especially in London Road: I mounted a campaign back in 2007/8 and continued fighting the whole way through. Even since I lost my seat, I wrote a motion for the (now Tory) councillor to present at full council asking for a full review of the speeding and the actions that could be taken. My original actions led to the introduction of Vehicle Activated Signs to remind people of the 30mph limit – they haven’t really worked which is why I put that motion in through a third party (even though I wasn’t a councillor).
There’s loads of other things – just click on your road name on the right and you’ll find things that I have done for your road. I have got planters re-planted, roads re-surfaced, got roads adopted by the council where others failed, got graffiti cleaned off in the middle of the night, got fly-tipping removed and helped a lady get much-needed attention paid to her husband’s grave.
There are many things I can’t talk about like helping a lady NOT get evicted by talking to the right officers and putting bailiffs off for a few days, stopping canvassing on my election last year because an elderly lady started crying about her very sick husband so I went in and spent an hour with her checking she was OK and attending a police interview with a lady who had had an attempted break-in.
Even whilst I have not been a councillor I have been working for you – not just on the London Road speeding issue as mentioned above, but also getting agreement for the signage review on Brook Street Roundabout, working and funding the A12 Noise website and negotiating with the Highways Agency, still campaigning against over-development, organising the clearance of knotweed by talking to Railtrack AND keeping the location secret so it didn’t affect house prices.
All this AND having a 100% attendance record of attending council meetings and attending, on average, 4-5 evening council meetings a month and putting your views across at every single one.
A certain defecting councillor said he could only get things done if he was a Tory. Thing is, as I have proven time and time again, if you are really involved, do your research, talk to the right people and put up a good business case for these things you CAN get things done – even if you are not actually elected. But, it is easier if you are elected of course and this is why I ask for your vote on Thursday 3rd May 2012 so I can speak up for you (unlike some) and make your voice heard.
I’m a fighter, give me something to fight for and you won’t be disappointed.
Karen x
p.s if you want a postal vote just let me know!






