Each year when there are local elections for WHBC ward councillors, WPAG asks all the candidates what they think about various local issues that we know are of interest to our members. We publish their answers in full, with no preference to any candidate. WPAG is a charitable entity that does not get involved in political campaigning.
This year, elections are on Thursday 2nd May, and Welwyn East has five candidates standing. We asked three broad questions of all the candidates. These questions are given below, along with each candidate’s response.
As information, Welwyn East covers part of Oaklands and Mardley Heath, and all of Digswell. It does not include Welwyn Village.
| Q1. Ignoring national politics/policies, what are the local issues relating to amenities, environment, infrastructure and planning that you think most concern Welwyn East/West residents, whether within their communities or the locality ? | |||||||
| Julie Cragg (Conservative) | I have been very concerned about planning issues in Digswell, where Digs 1 got refused to our relief. There have also been planning issues in Woolmer Green that are being investigated. Also dealing with individual residents’ issues, usually with a good outcome. Which is very satisfying and what I enjoy most. | ||||||
| Darrin Dexter (Green) | The speed limit between The Chequers Inn and Oaklands shops and the overall maintenance of the foot paths to make it safer and easier for residents to visit their local amenities. Mardley Woods is a great environment for families to enjoy, protecting and maintaining the woods and supporting the volunteers who do a great job is key. Working with the council on how to stop fly tipping on Heath Road. | ||||||
| Genevieve Almeyda (Lib Dem) | Welwyn village is unique and should remain so as a separate place from Welwyn Garden City, although it should never be considered secondary, and I think that keeping the importance of Welwyn in the forefront of the council’s considerations is something that concerns local people. The upkeep of the town including the environment such as grass cutting, verges, street maintenance and housing maintenance are all key things that people care about and whilst not specific to Welwyn, are areas that are of key concern to the residents here. Character and setting are also key considerations for the village. | ||||||
| Georg Von Bülow (Labour) | No answer received (we tried three times to get a response) | ||||||
| Tom Holdsworth (Reform) | No answer received (we received an acknowledgement, but no answers) | ||||||
| Q2. Could you let us know what your stance is on these issues, and if/how you’ve been engaging with them over the past year ? | |||||||
| Julie Cragg (Conservative) | Julie wanted to make a general statement, which we have given as her answer to Q1 above. | ||||||
| Darrin Dexter (Green) | As a resident in Welwyn East for 20 years I have noticed a number of issues on the road between The Chequers Inn and Oaklands shops and have spoken to residents and local businesses about their concerns. I have also spoken to residents on their concerns about fly tipping in Mardley Woods and what can be done. | ||||||
| Genevieve Almeyda (Lib Dem) | The issues mentioned above fit very much into the Liberal Democrat ethos and more importantly my own. I am in favour of a better environment both in terms of the local environment where we live, and the wider climate issue; better housing for people and better housing design, infrastructure to support development and the can-do council that my colleagues have been working towards. All these things, I believe fir in with the concerns of Welwyn residents. I am a recently appointed candidate, so to be frank, engagement has been limited so far. | ||||||
| Georg Von Bülow (Labour) | No answer received (we tried three times to get a response) | ||||||
| Tom Holdsworth (Reform) | No answer received (we received an acknowledgement, but no answers) | ||||||
| Q3. How would you work to address or support these local issues if you are elected, being realistic and practical about what can be achieved ? | |||||||
| Julie Cragg (Conservative) | Julie wanted to make a general statement, which we have given as her answer to Q1 above. | ||||||
| Darrin Dexter (Green) | I would encourage and support the expansion of Welwyn Rubbish Action Group to Oaklands and the rural roads around Welwyn East and West. Lobby for safer and lower speed limits on key roads making the school trip a safer journey. I would also look at ways to encourage businesses and residents to explore how to improve our solar and heat pump take up in an economical way reducing our carbon footprint. | ||||||
| Genevieve Almeyda (Lib Dem) | We are very clear as a Liberal Democrat group that we want to work collaboratively with residents and my colleagues do that effectively elsewhere. So if elected I intend to follow their lead and engage with the council, resident associations and other councillors of all parties to work to make Welwyn the best it can be. Woth our party as part of a Joint Administration we are in a position to influence thing more than we have ever been. | ||||||
| Georg Von Bülow (Labour) | No answer received (we tried three times to get a response) | ||||||
| Tom Holdsworth (Reform) | No answer received (we received an acknowledgement, but no answers) | ||||||
Julie and Darrin made some good statements that related to the local area
Genevieve waffled on about nonsense every chance he got
George being impossible to reach is a very bad sign if he gets elected
Tom doesn’t have a chance of winning anyway (i mean so does Darrin but at least he responded
Thank you Georg von Bulow for being so alive to local concerns and treating your constituents with the concern and respect that is due to them.