Born and educated in Wadhurst.  Mother of 2 young children.

Before reading my personal views on local issues, I would stress that I am part of the group "Caring for Wadhurst and its Residents", and therefore, whilst I may have strong views on individual issues, these are not group views, and I have undertaken, with the fellow members of the group, whilst remaining a strong supporter and advocate of the views below, to always act in the best interest of the village and to respect the wishes of its majority.

I have served on the council for only one term, but judging by the rumours and the emotions that I have stirred up within the village, I feel that I have demonstrated a passion and commitment to the ideas and ideals that I hold dear.

The Caring for Wadhurst and its Residents group came about by people such as myself feeling that the current Parish Council as an entity, rather than necessarily as individuals, had become distant from the views of the majority of the village, and that realignment would only become possible by wholesale change. A brief explanation of the candidates should be dropping through your doors in the near future. The space on the handout was limited so here are my specific positions and views on local issues:

1) I believe that within the village we have a number of excellent organisations such as the Rotary Club, Wadhurst Warriors, Twinning Association, Business Association, Wadhurst Institute Fields and Hall Trust to name but a few, and I believe that the effectiveness of these organisations could be increased by greater collaboration and joint initiatives, and I would work in support of this.

2) Car parking: I agree that something must be done to address carparking within the village, but I do not feel that proposed car park at the fire station is the most effective or sustainable solution. I would wish to investigate alternative proposals to this.

3) As the mother of two young children I am concerned about the long term future of the schooling in the village. I would passionately defend against any proposed relocation of schooling, cutting of resources or restriction the current facilities.

4) I believe that the maintenance and support of the current local retailers is key to the long term prosperity of the village. I therefore would resist the incursion of any major supermarket chain into the village.

5) I am concerned with the provision of teenage facilities and activities within the village, and therefore would support any initiatives to develop these further.

6) Floodlighting at the Tennis Courts: I was a strong advocate against the granting of permission for floodlighting at the Tennis Club, on the basis that the proposal submitted was entirely based upon the desires of the Tennis Club rather than a more moderate balanced proposal, which could have acknowledged, addressed and mitigated some of the concerns of the residents. I felt that this therefore favoured the benefit of a small minority at the expense of those living nearby an therefore ought to have been rejected in order to prompt rebalancing.

7) I am a dedicated supporter of Remembrance, having a husband who served in Iraq and who is still currently serving.

8) As a former commuter I am concerned about plans to alter the rail services available to us, as I feel this would damage the long term sustainability of the village.

9) I am in favour of more community housing, but within sensible environmental constraints, and dedicated to long term residents of the village.

In conclusion I would emphasise that I will seek to always act in the best interest of the village and to respect the wishes of its majority.

Promoted and published by Serena Gadd, Windmill Farm, Windmill Lane, Wadhurst, East Sussex.