We can all think of at least one time when the community came together for themselves.  A time when all corners of The Haswells could come together to do something positive.  

We aim to listen to the community to work towards providing what they want in terms of events and projects, as well as organising our own events which will have community cohesion at its core.

We want to change the role of the council in its support and provision to the youth, arts, sports, the elderly, education, employment and the voluntary sector whilst campaigning assertively for more resources for The Haswells. 

With the number of cuts to public funding across County Durham, there is no place for wasteful spending in our communities.  

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We will put an end to current spend on councillor allowances of £500 per year and the chairperson’s special responsibility allowance of £1500 per year.  This money, along with the considerable amount of money currently in the parish reserves, will be put back into our community.  

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We will also look to freeze the precept within our parish so people do not pay more than they already do in council tax.  We will also look to spend money on real benefits to our community including:

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•  Work with residents on local issues that affect them
•  Provide greater access to sports and recreation grounds
•  Support entertainment, leisure and arts festivals
•  Support local community groups
•  Provide and maintain open spaces and biodiversity
•  Provide public consultation on allotment provision
•  Provide and support rural transport schemes

The Haswells Community Party believe that it is far too easy to write off today’s young people.  

We were all young once and our young people need to be given at least the same opportunities as we were.

Our aim is to include young people from across The Haswells in decision making on the things that affect them – such as play areas, sports, education, activities and hobbies.

Many of the people who live in The Haswells have been here all their lives. 

They remember what our community used to be like and they also hope for a return to better times.It is their hopes and desires that drive us to ensure we start to bring a change to our community.  

Our aim is to ensure that the elderly are given the opportunity to speak and be heard in the process of creating a better future but also in the catering of their needs today, whether that be community activity, access to facilities or social provision.

When we talk to the people of The Haswells, the overriding consensus is that people don’t know what our parish council does.  When we tell them of decisions that have been made in their community’s name, such as the transfer of parish assets and land or the expenditure on buildings that are only accessed by the few, they are shocked and cannot believe it has been allowed to happen.

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We will introduce as much transparency and openness into the system as possible.  We’ll limit private meetings, provide easy access to minutes and decision making in both hard copy and digital form, improve public involvement and consultation at meetings and online, and be accountable for our actions. 

People always have been, and always will be, the heart of our community.

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We will no longer allow the voices of people from across our parish to be ignored or drowned out. We will introduce an arena where people from across our parish can come and share ideas and ask for support to address issues that affect them.  We will look to actively encourage development if it is in the public’s interest.

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The parish council can, and should, be the positive hub that helps to ensure the joint success of the private, public and voluntary sectors of The Haswells. We should be the catalyst of a new start, the vehicle for public voice and the drive behind the desire for change.
 

Our public spaces are precious but greatly underused.  They surround us and should be an integral part of our everyday lives. We will aim to make creative alliances to make The Haswells a cleaner and greener place to live whilst ensuring these spaces are safe for everyone who lives in them.

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We will look to support the current exemplary work and continue to ensure that all our parks and public spaces are at a proper standard.  We will introduce an enhanced maintenance programme including cost-effective spending and up to date equipment.

The Haswells Community Party is underpinned by a belief in fairness and a compassion founded on respect for local democracy that produces a society run for all. The Haswells Community Party is made up of people who live and work in The Haswells – we are just like you.  

It is because of this that we want a fair community that serves the people that are in it and put an end to the strangle hold that we currently face.