Yahoo News Nuneaton and Bedworth local election 2024 pledges from parties who want your vote
This week, householders will be asked to go to the polls in one of Nuneaton and Bedworth's most crucial elections in its recent history. Following a change by the boundary commission, every single seat at the Town Hall will be up for grabs on Thursday (May 2).
Usually half of the council's seats are up for grabs every two years - but in a huge change, all of the seats will be vied for - and there are more of them. The borough has changed from having 17 wards to now 19 and this means there are now 38 seats.
It means that each voter will be asked to cast two votes for the people they want to represent them in their ward. Also, for the first time, people will have to bring photographic ID to polling stations to cast their votes.
READ MORE: Nuneaton and Bedworth local elections 2024 - the key battlegrounds
The nation's eyes are also set to be on the results of the elections as the borough is famed for being a bellwether - giving an indication of how the General Election, when called, could pan out. With just days to go, we have asked the parties to explain why you should give them their vote. See what they have said below, in their own words:
Conservative
"The Conservatives have only been in control of the council for three years. We have made great strides forward in turning our Borough around, but Rome wasn’t built in a day.
"Over the past three years we have:
"Kick-started the regeneration of Nuneaton town centre
"Secured a new Leisure Centre for Bedworth
"Protected Nuneaton and Bedworth markets
"Reviewed the housing targets to reduce our need by half
"Invested in the largest programme of playground rebuilding in over 30 years
"Protected front line services by cutting waste, pet projects and reduced bureaucracy at the Town Hall
"Built new council housing to help the most vulnerable in our community
"Introduced zero tolerance on anti-social behaviour in council properties
"The list could be longer. We have made significant achievements over the past 3 years.
"But all this is at risk on 2 May. Only by keeping a Conservative council this Thursday can we keep the progress we have made and continue to improve our borough.
"If re-elected, a Conservative Council will build on our achievements and:
Begin the next phase of regeneration of Nuneaton with a new cinema, food hall, college campus and refurbishment of the old India Red
Finish the new Leisure Centre for Bedworth
Defend our revised Borough Plan with the inspector and challenge unnecessary developments
Continue to invest in the play and open spaces that all residents, especially families, enjoy
"Don’t put our progress at risk. Please, use your votes to return a hard-working Conservative Council on 2 May."
Coventry Citizens Party
"Don’t let the party’s name deter you. The Coventry Citizens Party has given us the opportunity to stand in the Exhall ward, which also covers Ash Green & Keresley End, where we have lived for over 20 years.
"We pledge to address:
"Reducing new driveway requirements to enable a push for EV charging points for all, whilst ensuring pedestrian safety is upheld.
"Engaging the youth within our communities so they have an active voice in decision making and in the provision of things for them to do, away from online activity. Approaching all demographics and age ranges to ensure that no one is left behind.
"Holding contractors accountable. Tax payer money has been invested in speed bumps that are not fit for purpose and some resurfacing work is worse than before rectifications were carried out.
"Supporting local businesses of all sizes with a focus on sole traders and micro businesses to help them grow, whilst encouraging people to keep the pound local.
"To encourage environmental impact assessments to be taken out prior to any developments being given the go ahead.
"The key point to mention, which is often understated, is that these local elections are not about national politics. General allegiances to any one party should be saved for the general election.
"Local elections should be about local people, local issues and local change. We are excited by the prospect of serving the community we have loved for many years."
Green Party
"The Green Party had their first councillor in the borough elected in 2012. We have been strong, constructive opposition under both administrations.
"A small Green group greatly improves democracy, both by holding the ruling group to account and providing great local champions. We are standing 10 candidates in 8 wards which means we cannot take control of the council but could win enough to have one green member on every committee. That is very important as it always means there is a 3 rd voice in the room.
"The big issues over the next two years are restarting the stalled regeneration projects for Nuneaton and Bedworth with more realistic proposals.
"We need better consultation on the new designs, with better management of projects. We need more footfall in our town centres which means making them safer, greener and more attractive.
"We need to sort out transport options for everyone accessing new developments.
"We need to reinstate benches, with better policing to control anti-social behaviour rather than simply moving problems a few yards.
"The council’s financial systems need to be repaired so that people can see where their money is being spent, produce audited accounts and monitor the council's debt.
"We make great local councillors. Green Councillors are the only ones fighting for bus services, opposing fire cuts, constantly battling for good infrastructure and highlighting planning applications.
"Greens will continue to push for action on environmental issues like fly tipping, flood risks, air pollution, noise and protection of our natural assets.
Labour
"Every Labour candidate has signed the Jo Cox Foundation Civility Pledge and we intend to bring some civility, good manners and professionalism back into the Town Hall. The toxic way of local politics is not something that the Labour Group intend to carry on with.
"Thursday 2nd May Please use both your votes; Vote Labour, let's get Nuneaton and Bedworth's future back.
Revitalise our Town Centre's
"We will keep car parking charges cheap to help local businesses and market stalls in these difficult times and continue to invest in our towns.
A Greener Nuneaton and Bedworth
"We will campaign to stop waste dumping in our rivers and streams and we will push for better insulation for our homes to help with the energy crisis.
Improve road and rail infrastructure
"We will campaign to have better road, rail and bus infrastructure by asking for some of the HS2 money to be spent in our Borough. This will also help with air pollution, traffic congestion and green travel.
Invest in the next generation
"We will invest in an apprenticeship scheme to help our young people learn the skills they need to prosper in today's market.
More Council houses
"We will continue with Labour's pledge of building more council houses to help the people that need help get into a house that they need.
We will continue to support our communities
"We will work with the third sector community groups and charitable incorporated organisations that operate in the interest of local residents."
TUSC - Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition in Nuneaton and Bedworth
The group was approached to contribute to this feature. According to its Facebook page, the group has 7 anti-austerity cuts, anti-war candidates standing under TUSC - Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition in Nuneaton and Bedworth.
It says Starmer's Labour 'doesn't fight for us'. They say if you want to make a change and do something to show your dissatisfaction with the establishment parties, vote TUSC in the upcoming local elections on 2nd May.
They have candidates in Stockingford West, Arbury, Chilvers Coton, Camp Hill and St Nicholas wards in Nuneaton, and in Bedworth we have candidates in Slough and Exhall wards.
Other candidates
Also, standing in this year's local elections is a Liberal Democrat candidate, Joy Salaja, in the Weddington ward. Independent candidate, Sam Margrave, is standing in the Slough ward. Khalil Ahmed is standing as an independent candidate in the Attleborough ward.
Local elections - when will the results be known?
Traditionally, for the borough council elections, the votes are counted on the evening of Thursday, May 2 into early hours of Friday morning. However, this year, the count will be held on Friday, May 3.
The Nuneaton campus of North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College will host the count, which is due to start at 10am, with all of the results predicted to be announced by 2pm. CoventryLive will be at the count to bring all of the results as they unfold.
The full details of all of the candidates standing in each ward can be found in our story here.
