Politics… I despise it at times; most of the time in fact. It often leads to what James O’Brien (LBC presenter) calls “footballification”, where people offer blind support to anyone on the same “team”.
The same thing happens the other way around where, just like the famous Liverpudlian rivalry, some people “hate” anything in Evertonian blue and only wear Liverpool-red underwear. I am regularly frustrated by footballification in local politics where those working hard for their community are abused because they happen to have a party membership card gathering dust in a drawer somewhere. Some people need to stop thinking like a football hooligan and look at the individual and their efforts.
Over the last few years I have had cause to shake my head at a great many MPs who have brought politics into disrepute due to complete stupidity or disregard for morals. I work very hard for residents across five parishes and I refuse to be tarred with the same brush as bad politicians, whatever colour they wear.
I have helped many residents over the last few months with a huge range of problems in line with my role as your local councillor. Following the recent flooding (the worst being in Easterton and West Lavington) I was able to coordinate street-sweepers and clean-up crews and advised residents and landowners on how they can work pre-emptively to minimise future risks of flooding. Likewise, I have been lobbying for additional spend on gulley clearance, culvert repairs and other maintenance tasks with success and we will see more money spent as a result.
I spend hours each week assisting residents with planning applications, either defending against harmful ones, supporting beneficial ones or simply advising parish councils and residents on the complexities each application brings. Specific local issues recently include a 200-acre solar farm, a gypsy & traveller site, a residential and commercial development, and applications outside the settlement boundary. My recent focus also includes planning enforcement which seeks to ensure that everyone follows the rules and nobody tries to cheat the community by building without consent, or ignoring important conditions. It isn’t an easy topic because pragmatism is required but I am also lobbying for “more teeth” to dissuade contraventions rather than just dealing with the consequences.
I have also been supporting residents with community projects across the area from orchards to bus service improvements, and playparks to road safety initiatives. As well as “community” matters, I regularly speak to residents on issues that are more personal and I have helped people obtain blue-badges, education support, taxi licences and improved care packages, amongst many other things. I have also taken housing associations to task when they have failed in their duties to protect residents and I continue to challenge Wiltshire Police to better support residents on matters of Anti-Social Behaviour and speeding. And then of course there is Black Dog, for which I am heading into a meeting with senior officers as I write this.
Through all of this hard work I have not once been asked about, nor highlighted, my political affiliations. I am just me working hard to support you. For me, party politics can stay in Westminster.
You may contact me about this or any other matter by email to dominic.muns@wiltshire.gov.uk or by phone on 07585 394 178.
