The following article is a candidate profile for the Radstock Labour and Co-operative Party B&NES Council candidate, Chris Dando. All views expressed are solely those of the author.

Radstock has changed significantly for the better in my time as a B&NES councillor.

We have new and improved facilities; good schools, a new doctor’s surgery and dentist, and the Radstock Co-operative has demolished its 1950s store prior to redevelopment.

The centre of Radstock has been redeveloped, with new shops and an improved road layout. And the Town Centre Regeneration Scheme is underway to bring tired buildings back into productive use.

I am leading the project for the Town Council to acquire and redevelop the former Trinity Methodist Church as a community facility.

But there is more that needs to be done. We need new and improved facilities for our children and young people, working with Youth Connect and others to invest in their future.

We need to sort out our bus service, made more precarious by the cuts to supported bus services.

And we need to bring more employment opportunities into the Town, so that people can avoid travelling to work where possible.

Living in the centre of Town, I experience daily the challenges Radstock faces. That makes me more committed to work for residents to make our Town a great place to live.

I’m proud of what I have been able to achieve and confident that we can achieve more.

And I’m especially proud of the work I have been able to do in establishing a friendship and co-operation agreement between the Council and the community of Oleksandriya in Ukraine, who have been badly impacted by the war.

I believe I have the experience, expertise, and commitment necessary to take Radstock forward.

Together with my fellow candidate, Lesley Mansell, we offer Radstock a positive choice in this election.