The following article is a candidate profile for the Midsomer Norton (Redfield) B&NES Council candidate, Gordon Mackay. All views expressed are solely those of the author.

BaNES Council are spending over £7m on new retractable anti-terrorism bollards. I don’t think that represents good value to Midsomer Norton residents at a time when services and transport links to our community are being cut. 

Midsomer Norton needs a fairer deal, more investment and better transport links.

While every penny of the tiny Town Council budget is spent right here in Midsomer Norton, the majority of Council Tax goes to BaNES to pay for things like a new lobby in the Guildhall which will feature a digital reception desk and electric security-bolts hidden in the doors, presumably in case anyone gets frustrated by the retractable bollards.

How about putting on a few more buses and making the Park-and-Ride free?  Or opening the Hollies Library on Saturday afternoons so people can use the public toilets in there, like in Keynsham?

As the third biggest town in the authority, Midsomer Norton needs independent representation to give us the voice we deserve.