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"In just over 2 weeks, residents have the chance to vote in the Nottinghamshire County Council elections. It has been 4 years since I was elected as the first ever Ashfield Independent councillor for Kirkby North. As the election approaches, residents from the Coxmoor and Kingsway Estates have been asking me what I think the biggest success has been during my term as an Ashfield Independent councillor. So here goes" writes Kirkby Councillor Andy Meakin.

This is a contributed party political press release. This website and its associated newspapers support no political party and it does not necessarily reflect our views. We consider contributed releases from all lawful parties and would encourage all candidates to use this platform to positively explain their vision and policies for their local communities.

Four years ago, life was tough – we had just come out of successive COVID-19 lockdowns and the world was re-building after a time of unprecedented horror. During the lockdowns, the Ashfield Independent team ran a phone bank. We spoke to over 45,000 residents during this challenging time – and we made them one promise – we would come back stronger. We would deliver change – the change you deserve.

Bringing up my daughter Rae-Ann as a single parent made me realise that we need to do everything we can to improve the life chances of our neighbours and families. I proud that Rae-Ann has been offered a place at Nottingham University – I want all children from Ashfield to have that chance.

Voting for the Ashfield Independents in 2021 meant they had the influence to reopen Ashfield Fire Station full-time.

That’s why building Kirkby Leisure Centre was so important. Labour had promised the people of Kirkby a swimming pool for generations and failed to deliver. The Ashfield Independents did this and more. We now have over 150 community, sports and youth groups using the best Council-run facilities in the East Midlands.

Was this our biggest achievement? Well its up there.

Building Council Homes has to be up there too – none were built for decades before the Ashfield Independents took over the Council. We can’t build enough to satisfy overwhelming demand – but we are making massive progress. Ashfield Homes for Ashfield People!

Am I proud of this? Yes, but as comedian Jimmy Cricket said, …there’s more!

Andy wants all young people to have the chance to go to University like is daughter Rae-Ann.

In 2018, the Labour Party closed Ashfield Fire Station at night to save money. Unfortunately, there was a few deaths in serious house fires in Kirkby. The Ashfield Independents said in 2021, if you vote to elect enough of us – we can use that influence to open the station full-time. You did, and last year, our campaign – led by Councillor Jason Zadrozny was successful. Thousands of YOUR CHAD readers signed petitions, attended protests and wrote letters. We won. Ashfield is safer as a result. That is what I am most proud of.

The Ashfield Independents have transformed parks, campaigned to save green spaces and are transforming our towns – there is much to do. There is much to change. In this local election, only the Ashfield Independents can be trusted to deliver that change.

Political Opinion: Our biggest success over the last 4 years