Gin is standing for re-election to Eastleigh Borough Council, representing Bishopstoke ward. She was elected to the Borough Council in 2018. Gin has lived in Bishopstoke since 1994 (so a newcomer!), living first on Edward Avenue, moving to Stoke Common Road in 2011.
She is also a Bishopstoke Parish Councillor, elected in 2016 and has already retained her seat. Gin stood for Stoke Common ward, alongside Cllr Anne Dean and because no other candidates stood and there are 3 positions for the ward, no elections are taking place.
Gin is a keen (but slow) runner and leads runs for a local women’s running club.
“It’s been a privilege to serve Bishopstoke Ward as one its three Eastleigh Borough Councillors since winning the local elections in 2018. I stood because I was really concerned that nobody seemed to be listening to local residents who, like me, felt that the Council’s proposals to build over 5,000 houses north of Bishopstoke and Fair Oak was simply destructive. Over and over again, we pointed out that there was no evidence that the huge development was needed and no evidence that the road would be effective. There was evidence that it would damage sites of ancient natural woodland and the river Itchen SSSI. I was so relieved when the Planning Inspector agreed that there was insufficient evidence and asked that this development proposal be deleted from Eastleigh’s Local Plan.
One of our first actions was to challenge an increase in Councillors’ allowances. The level exceeded that awarded to the Council’s staff. Lou, Ray and I clubbed together to buy the defibrillator that’s now on St Paul’s Church with our increases rather than keep them ourselves.
I got the Council to back CPRE’s campaign to for a new Green Belt which can help to protect the green spaces around Stoke Park Woods for perpetuity. We need homes, but not executive houses on green fields designed to maximise developers’ profits.
I work in Chandlers Ford and have experienced the congestion on Bishopstoke Road first hand for many years. Our village should be a safer place to walk with useful sustainable transport links that we can all access.
I want to see public toilets back at The Hub. And the paths in Stoke Park Woods need restoration
With Lou and Ray, I’ve pushed for developers’ cash to be spent in our area. That hasn’t always been the case. We’ve approved funds from developers to extend Stokewood Surgery, rebuild the Memorial Hall, restore The Planney, to improve local play areas and Glebe Meadow. We’ve added more bins, more traffic speed checks, tackled parking issues at Riverside: issues raised by you.
Please consider voting for me on 6th May.”
Promoted by and on behalf of: Louise Anne Parker-Jones, Gin Tidridge, Ray Dean, Dave Francis, Louise Hillier-Wheal, Anne Dean, Susan Lynch and Ralph Candy. Postal Address: Bishopstoke Independents, The IncuHive Space, Mayflower Close, Chandler’s Ford Industrial Estate, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO53 4AR.