It's not all about potholes: What do local elections mean to me?

By Henri Brocklebank

Director of Conservation

About ten years ago, my neighbour asked whether I might like to get more involved in our local Parish Council meetings.

Technically, we’re too small to be a full parish council—we’re a 'Parish Meeting'—but the idea is the same: local people meeting to talk about the issues that affect us day to day. For us, that often meant fly‑tipping, broadband problems and planning applications. Occasionally the meetings felt a bit Dibley, but the important thing was that they got stuff done... sometimes glacially, often at a super parochial level, but done. And through them, I learned a lot about the work of our District and County Councillors, much of which is easy to miss.

Every quarter, always on a Tuesday evening, our councillors join us, sitting round a neighbour's table. They update us on what is happening within their councils and help us untangle local issues (in and between our meetings). It could be a planning breach, a road problem or a school allocation.

The whole experience of being involved in my Parish Meetings has been a reminder that local councillors play a real role in shaping how our communities function, and giving us a voice.

For me, wildlife and the environment are a priority and if I have a concern, I want councillors who are ready to listen. I need them to take concerns about pollution, habitat damage or access to green space seriously. If I’m concerned about something affecting local wildlife, I want to know that the people in those roles will recognise its importance and, ideally, act on it.

Local democracy may not draw much attention, and I know turnout is usually lower in local elections than in general elections. But for anyone who cares about wildlife, or about any issue that plays out at a local scale, these elections are important. They’re about choosing people you trust to represent the things that matter to you and to speak up for the places you value.

I will be looking carefully at my local choices in May, finding out more about the candidates, and voting for someone who I think will be on our team.