Walking the patch (From Hereford Times)

Walking the patch

9:53pm Friday 21st August 2009

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My fellow Conservative Councillor Brian Wilcox often joins me in a walk around our ward, meeting our residents on the doorstep and helping to address their concerns. Some tell us: “I never normally see you” - probably a complaint some Councillors often get. It reminds me of a time when I knocked on one particular front door six times in a year – and on the sixth time, when the door opened, I had that very statement!

It can be hard getting round all 2500 + houses but when we do find people at home this kind of direct contact enables us to properly understand the various issues affecting our local area. Whether it is cars speeding on Kingsway, potholes on Barrs Court Road – or arctic lorries deciding to take shortcuts down residential roads – it is our residents who are our best eyes and ears.

In some four days of solid walking we have already spoken to hundreds of people and have delivered our newsheet to every household. Since then, more residents have sent back their feedback using the forms we put in our leaflet. We were thankful of good weather and we thank our many residents for speaking with us, and furthermore, to those who even invited us in for tea!

But with autumn nearly upon us, Brian is off on holiday and I am taking a weekend trip to Cornwall. So enjoy the rest of your hols fellow residents. And if you didn't see us this time we will soon be found in a street near you!