"We only hear from you at election time"

A common comment I hear as I go knocking on doors is that "we only hear from you at election time".

I had this today, with the additional quote of "you're like the police, never there when we need you".

So let's look at the truth behind the matter.

Here in Cowick there are 2 ward councillors on the City Council elected for a 4 year term, as well as County Councillor for Alphinton and Cowick, again elected every four years.

That means there is an election in Cowick 3 out of 4 years. So, yes you probably do hear from us at election time - as most of the time we are either just before, during or immediately after an election.

There was a Cowick Rose following Cllr Heather Morris' successful election in September.

I was selected to fight the seat in November and since then there have been at least 3 Ward Newsletters along with street letters dealing with very specific issues, as well as knocking on doors and phone canvassing.

Now in Cowick there are some 4300 electors living in approximately 2300 properties. That's a lot of people to get around and see. I will admit I'm only going to meet a proportion of them - but I'm doing my best.

But communication is a two-way street. All my election literature gives my contact details [address, phone and e-mail] as well as that of the local Labour Councillor, Heather Morris. Please do tell us if there are things that are bothering you.

Buddle Lane Youth Centre

Buddle Lane Youth Centre - confusing situated on Merrivale Road - held a fun day today, supported by a grant of £300 from Cowick Labour Councillor, Heather Morris.

A great time was held by all, with a free BBQ, cookery demonstrations, a treasure hunt and displays of karate, break dancing and music.

Why the Y?

Exeter is often strange in its approach to street numbering and naming. I pity the poor postman - and deliverers of election material.

The usual convention of opposite sides of the road being odds and evens is often flouted by consecutive numbers - neighouring streets are often a mixture of odds/evens and consecutive, Who decides this?

Then there is the case of the first or last house in a street not being in the correct street, but in the street around the corner. To my way of thinking, 1 Sussex Close is actually in Somerset Drive.

Or the case - like Croft Close - where the street is a loop, with odds [or evens] on the outside of the loop and evens [or odds] the roundabout-like inner side.

But I'm still at a loss to explain the convention found in Barley Farm Road - it's a Y, with the 2 arms joining up with Berkshire Drive, and the foot forming a junction with barley Lane. WHY?

Here all the roads you see are Barley Farm Road.

Road works on Barley Farm Road

Over the past few months, Labour Councillor for Cowick on Exeter City Council, Heather Morris, has been chasing Devon County Council following complaints regarding the road resurfacing work undertaken in Barley Farm Road.

We have now received the following information from Devon County Council:-
The condition of the Micro Asphalt is an ongoing problem, the extremely low winter temperatures has resulted in a high of failure on a number of sites across the county. Both our Lab and the Contractor are investigating the reason for this and until the root cause of the problem is established or the surface stabilises the Contractor is carrying out frequent sweeps to remove excess chippings.

A letter has been delivered to all residents on Barley Farm Road and more will follow on this subject as and when we know anything else...

Valid Nomination

Monday was the closing date for nominations for the City Council elections on 5th May - I had already received a letter informing me that my nomination was valid.

But today I found out who the opposition are.

And with the Statement of Persons Nominated I am probably none the wiser. Are you?

Voter ID

Over the coming weeks leading up to Polling Day on Thursday 5th May, I will be continuing the work I've been doing since the beginning of the year - being out and about in Cowick, talking to local residents about local issues and concerns and trying to find out if they are planning to vote for me.

Traditionally this is known as canvassing but it really is a form of surveying - in the new terminology of the Labour Party, Voter ID.

We don't spend time trying to convince them to vote Labour or change their minds, just get an idea of any local issues - or national - that bother them and an indication of their usual political allegiance and how they plan to vote in May.

Some residents will remind us that it is a secret ballot and that their voting intentions are a matter "between them and the ballot box" and I fully respect this element of democracy - but many more are prepared to tell us which way they vote, or if not directly, tell us "NOT Labour".

I ask them about local issues first, and then which way they vote. Some people are confused by this when they say they're against - surely I should have asked which party they support before I question them about local issues.

NO, NO, NO. Helping people with difficulties crosses party boundaries. It doesn't matter if you vote Labour, Lib Dem, Tory, extremist party or even not vote at all. I will do my best to help resolve local issues whatever way they vote. My duty in these matters will be to ALL local residents, whatever their political persuasion.

Sometimes we will canvass everyone regardless of their previous political affiliation but mostly we focus our efforts in contacting people we already know are favourable to us politically or those about whom we know nothing.

And what do we do with this information?

We use it to allow us to target some direct mailings at Labour supporters and unknowns, and on polling day it helps us concentrate our efforts on ensuring that those that have promised to vote for me actually come out and vote.

It's official - I'm the Labour and Co-op Party Candidate

I've had my letter from Exeter City Council Returning Officer, Philip Bostock, comfirming that my nomination is valid.

I am now the official Labour and Co-operative Party Candidate.