Hampshire Independents has no national political affiliation, we are very much our own people. As such, we can represent our local area to a much greater extent than any national party candidate. Hampshire Independent councillor candidates are all independently minded but following a united core of decency. A belief that the individual matters, you matter. A belief that local council staff should be there to not just dictate rules but to assist communities to resolve their own issues, like transport links, parking problems or child care solutions. Involving residents in decision making can get results.

There is no perfect place and no perfect answers but together, we can make life better.

We must fight the insane plans to build tens of thousands of new homes without any real plans for the infrastructure they require. We desperately need extra doctors, dentists, child care and even parking. We are not against growth but believe that we must fix what is already here before building any more.

Currently sewage overflows are dumped into our streams or rivers. This will not stop until new sewage works are built. We must demand recycling and rubbish dumping is free, it’s the best way to stop fly-tipping, which costs councils millions of pounds to clear up.

There are so many practical ways to solve local problems.

• Poor road skills of delivery bike riders and electric scooter users: they need proper training and licensing.
• Child care: parental involvement at a community level can reduce child care costs to an affordable level.
• Littering: Overflowing bins and an unkept feel make littering seem acceptable. Community pride will curb that trend.
• These ideas are frowned upon by most political parties as no union labour or private contractor is needed.

We have a vast amount of experience, all of our candidates coming from real life on the ground work. Fraud investigator, police and fire services, IT specialists, carers, shop keepers and even a tattooist. Every one of us has local interests at heart. We struggle, like you, with the high costs of living, poor services, atrocious amount of fly-tipping, cluttered and damaged pavements, poor policing, parking nightmares and the general “that will do” attitude that blights our town.

Our candidates have supported a wide spectrum of political parties over their lives, but all believe national politics does not help local issues. The constant bickering between the main parties is shameful. We must and will continue to highlight where “the best interests of Basingstoke” are superseded by “the best interests of party donors” Local councils should always put local people first.