Local champions

Your local Lib Dem team will work hard for you all year round - not just at election time. We are passionate about being visible and accessible to residents so we can be your local champions at the town hall.

For too long Councillors in our borough have been re-elected because of the rosette on their lapel over their record of delivery for residents. We are standing local champions across the Borough who will provide a fresh, independent voice for residents.

Time for change

We will bring a new approach to local politics. We will work with all parties to get the best for our area.

We will campaign for all Councillors to be elected at the same time every 4 years in all up elections. Currently, we elect Councillors in thirds. Electing all Councillors this year is set to be a one-off, with elections in thirds resuming in 2026 for 3rd placed candidates. We believe this will encourage long term decision making by Basildon Councillors, reduce the cost of elections and reduce voter fatigue. Where schools are used as polling stations this would also reduce disruption to childrens education. 

Adopt a local plan

Our Borough is at risk of uncontrolled development because of failure of Basildon Councillors to adopt a local development plan and meet the local housing need. Currently Basildon is set to be the only district in the country to not have an adopted local plan by 2025.

We will support the adoption of a local development plan that meets the housing needs of the Borough. We will campaign for the right houses, to be built in right places, importantly supported by underlying infrastructure. 

Positive vision

Our approach to all decisions will be to advance our borough becoming a greener, fairer and safer for the benefit of all our residents. This overarching approach can influence everything from planning policies, waste collections, to the management of our parks. 

We will campaign for a genuine consultation with residents on options to replace the resuable recycling bags that are not fit-for-purpose. These bags are creating litter due to their poor design, and are easily lost by residents when they are blown away. This consultation will not have a pre-determined outcome, with options provided that have been sucessfully used by other councils. It's imperative we increase the recyling rate in the borough for environmental and financial reasons.

We will campaign for active travel improvements in the borough. New developments are required to include provisions for active travel, but currently we do not have sufficient active travel infrastuture for them to connect to. For example, we would like to see improved active travel connections between Noak Bridge and Billericay.

BILLERICAY WEST CANDIDATES

Tim Nicklin
Tim is a chartered engineer and manager who has worked in the borough for a multinational business for over 30 years.  He has a reputation for innovation and challenging complacency. In his spare time Tim manages a project feeding the homeless and vulnerable who otherwise wouldn’t get a hot meal.

Tim looks forward to bring his professional skills to improve the effectiveness of the borough council in meeting the needs and aspirations of local residents. He stood in Billericay West in 2022, coming a strong second to the Conservatives.

Chris May
“As a Billericay Town Councillor, and a resident in Billericay West, I’ve been working with residents across the ward to identify the issues that need action to make sure Billericay stays a great place to live.
As a Town councillor I am already working hard for the local community all year round. There is so much more I could do achieve as a Borough Councillor”.

Chris stood in Billericay West in 2023, coming a strong second to the Conservatives. He has been a visible presence in the community delivering leaflets and canvassing voters.

Peter Lancaster
Peter lives in the ward and feels strongly that developing community-led improvements for the town are the key to strengthen representation for the people that live here. As a regular deliverer he has noticed the steady decline in the safety of our roads and pavements. Our lovely town needs looking after and should not be subjected to a variety of disparate, unrelated building developments that will make living here more and more difficult. A Local Plan that takes into account the infrastructure of our whole town should be the priority of our Council.

CASTLEDON & CROUCH CANDIDATES

Stewart Mott

Stewart is an enthusiastic and energetic local champion for Noak Bridge, Ramsden Bellhouse, Ramsden Crays and Wickford Castledon. He contested Wickford Castledon for the Liberal Democrats at the past two local elections, and has been gaining support by talking to residents and producing leaflets. He has been a Town Councillor on Wickford Town Council for Wickford Castledon ward since May 2022.

Stewart lives in Wickford with his partner and their dachshund Frank. His invested in the future of our town as he intends to live here for many years to come. In his professional life he works from home as a subject matter expert on workplace pensions.

His supporting the establishment of a local speedwatch in Wickford and offered advice to residents wanting to oppose the proposed development of the east of the bell farm site. 

Nicola Hoad

Nicola is also a Town Councillor on Wickford Town Council. She is a longtime resident of Wickford and has spent her career working for the NHS. She has previously contested the Wickford North ward for the Liberal Demcorats for the past three years. 

Michael Woods

Michael is a longtime campaigner for the Liberal Democrats in Wickford. His contested elections in Wickford for the Liberal Democrats numerous times, with his best result in 1996 when he was just 99 votes behind the Conservatives in Wickford South.