ANDY Woolley is a trade union activist and life-long Labour supporter. Reporter Jack Pitts spoke to him about why he thinks the Labour message is so important in the Cotswolds, especially in Tetbury.

 

As a regional secretary for the National Union of Teachers, Andy cannot stand for election. He can, however, co-ordinate the campaign to get as many Labour councillors as possible on to Cotswold District Council (CDC).

Labour’s values, Andy believes, have resonance in the Cotswolds.

“In the last few years we have grown the party,” he said.

“We are finding that when people hear what we have to offer they understand why it’s relevant in the Cotswolds.

“In the short term we are unlikely to take control of the council but we believe that having a Labour voice will provide another insight. 

“We have shown in West Oxfordshire District what we can do with a minority, what an impact we can make with a few councillors.”

Labour would like encourage companies to pay the living wage, improve infrastructure – particularly buses – and support small businesses

“We’d look at parking in Cirencester and maybe implement a park and ride.

“We think public transport has to change. There should be more buses between Cirencester and Tetbury, and better links with Kemble train station.

“If there was better public transport we wouldn’t need a great big car park in Kemble.”

They would also give people in social housing three years security, not six months as is currently the case, to give them more life stability.

“We believe that we have a programme that is for everybody, especially the neglected group of people in rural areas; those that are not wealthy,” he said

Andy believes that Labour could do particularly well in the district elections in Tetbury.

“We have a solid base in Tetbury and we are fielding some good candidates.

“It’s a very very mixed area and we think we are making ourselves felt.

“We are really going all out in Tetbury.”