The following article is a candidate profile for the Midsomer Norton Town Council (North) candidate, Charlotte Lucas. All views expressed are solely those of the author.

I’ve lived in MSN all my life and my grandfather and father both farmed the land before me.Our farm is now a nursery school that focusses on providing a safe space for children to learn and connect with nature. The last 10 years have seen us welcome 7,000 local families onto the farm and so it will come as no surprise, if successful, I would like to use the local platform to advocate for families with young children including looking into the accessibility and opportunity of local spaces and places for children and young people with additional needs and disabilities to engage with and feel connected to the community. On our farm we also address the needs of children growing up in a world that will face the impact of the global climate crisis. I would find ways to facilitate working with the wider community to learn how we can come together and face such a daunting situation with small and positive sustainable steps that create long term change. I remember when Gateway was in the high street, when your Channel 5 card was your ticket to the latest releases, when Spooners was actually the Palladium and when Nisi the Greek restaurant was the butchers and you’d get a cube of cheese to eat whilst waiting. All High Streets must change but it would be wonderful to work together to support local businesses to thrive. As a local business owner myself I’d like to collaborate and think of creative projects to achieve this goal. Finally, I’d like to wish all the candidates good luck and take the opportunity to say, “Come on the Nor!”