A Basingstoke pressure group is holding public meetings for residents to quiz candidates in the Basingstoke elections.
Save Our Loddon Valley Environment (SOLVE) is urging political parties to ensure their actual candidate shows up and not a party spokesperson.
The hustings event is billed as a chance for Chineham and Basing residents to question prospective candidates in the run-up to the May 5 elections on development and housing issues.
The first session takes place at Chineham Village Hall on Saturday at 10.15am. The second is at Old Basing Village Hall on April 26 at 10.15am.
It is hoped that Chineham, current independent councillor Martin Biermann will stand alongside challenging councillors, Conservative John Downes and Labour’s Michael Broad.
And in Basing, Conservative councillor Stephen Mark will take questions with Liberal Democrat candidate Emily Lawrence and Labour’s Leslie Bryan Clarke.
Clive Pinder from Solve said: “What should happen is the party candidates show up and not a spokesperson.
“We have had it in the past where a candidate is replaced in favour of a more eloquent speaker.
“And if prospective candidates do not show, it will be left to the audience to decide if they are worthy or competent enough to do their jobs.
“It is just a question of getting to know where each councillor stands personally and where their party stands on general development plans in the borough, as well as the specific campaigns.”
Cllr Biermann said: “Events such as these are an important part of the democratic process.
“If residents get a chance to quiz their councillors themselves, they hear it direct and not filtered through third parties.
“I am pleased that SOLVE are taking the initiative for a public debate, even if it’s not going to be the best day of my life.”
For 18 months, SOLVE has drummed up support from more than 1,500 people to fight plans by housing developer Taylor Wimpey to build 9,000 homes in the Loddon Valley.
This is the third series of public meeting called by the group.
In November, more than a hundred residents packed Chineham Village Hall to quiz council chiefs on housing plans.
Photograph courtesy of Tony Tuck
