The following article is a candidate profile for the Midsomer Norton Town Council candidate, Deb Thatcher. All views expressed are solely those of the author.

As a brief introduction, I have lived in the Norton Radstock area my whole life (bar a short stint living in Bath some 30 years ago), have two children, always worked locally and now run a thriving business based in Midsomer Norton with my husband, Martin and daughter, Evie, and, of course, our valued staff.

I have witnessed rapid transformations in the world that we live in, changes that are coming from the top down; these changes have hit street level and, by far, they are not positive. So, I asked myself the question ‘what can we do to change what we don’t like?’ and I came to the conclusion that the only way is to have an impact on a local level; this is what prompted me to put myself forward to be a Town Councillor.

I do not think the role of Councillor is an easy one, all of us new candidates would have much to learn, but we will learn, we will listen and do our best to put the wants and needs of our community first.

I have no interest in being right, all I care about is doing the right thing and I hope I get the opportunity to do this.