A message from Trevor Clarke, Conservative Candidate for Rochester South and Horsted By-Election, Thursday 8th May.
Thank you for taking the time to visit this website. By the fact you have found me here I guess you have received my letter or leaflet setting out my plans to tackle anti-social behaviour, and are keen to find out more. I greatly appreciate your time and interest.Some people will possibly think that I am naive to believe I can make a difference. I disagree. If you don't think you can achieve anything worthwhile then you shouldn't stand for election in the first place. I want to be a local councillor as I am determined to achieve something positive for the wider community.
ABOVE: Litter, a selfish act that ruins the local environment.
As a local resident for 20 years I have witnessed, as I am sure you have, a steady decline in respect for the environment and the local community. Vandalism, litter, fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour is a blight on modern living. It is these issues that too often affect the quality of life for local people - and this is where I really want to try and make a difference.
ABOVE: Children need to learn about the consequences of their actions, and parents should "foot the bill" to clean up the mess and repair the damage.
As a father, with teenage children of my own, I also appreciate that the vast majority of younger people are decent and honest, and many of those that do misbehave are often crying out for the love and attention that many sadly fail to find in their own homes.
It is important, therefore, that we approach this problem in two ways:
In the short term we need to tackle the immediate problem of litter, vandalism, petty crime and anti-social behaviour by "rolling up our sleeves" and doing something positive about the problem. We can "set the standard" and lead by example, as my Conservative colleagues have been doing within their own communities for a long time:
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ABOVE: Local Conservative councillors and volunteers clean up Coney Banks off Magpie Hall Road.
ABOVE: Real Action - Real Results, another example of local Conservatives "rolling up their sleeves" and improving their community
ABOVE and BELOW: Walderslade Conservatives tackle litter at the Village Shops.
ABOVE: Snodland's new Conservative Town Council "waged war on litter" and installed 80 new litter bins. Now every fast food shop, take-away and bus stop has a nearby litter bin.
But, as the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure, so we must also examine how to deal with the root causes of the problem by providing something positive for younger people to do that will benefit them and the wider community.
My proposals are not "rocket science" nor are they new. As you see above, there are many examples of hard working Conservative councillors working hand-in-hand with their local communities to bring about change. I want to harvest the best of those ideas and implement them here, in Rochester South and Horsted.
Yes - it will be hard work and time consuming, but I have both the time and energy to take on the task. With your support on Thursday 8th May I look forward to the challenges ahead.
If you have any comments or suggestions please do not hesitate to contact me at trevoraclarke@blueyonder.co.uk
With best wishes
Trevor Clarke
Publised and promoted by A Kennedy on behalf of T Clarke, all at 200 Canterbury Street, Gillingham, ME7 5XG.
