WITH the candidates announced for the Kempshott by-election, The Gazette gives the three hopefuls vying for the seat a chance to have their say.

Residents will have the opportunity to vote on March 1 at their polling station or via proxy.

The by-election was called following the death of long-serving councillor, Cllr Rita Burgess in December last year at the age of 74.

So here is your opportunity to meet the candidates:

Tony Capon, Conservative

Tony Capon works as chief executive of a mental health charity, saying understands what it means to represent people with compassion and be there when he is needed.

Tony lives locally and has been a governor of a Kempshott school. He describes himself as a caring and compassionate Conservative who likes to put service to people first.

He said: "I think that to be good at a job like this, you need to be able to relate to people, understand their problems and be committed to helping them. That will be my approach to being your councillor."

In this campaign Tony is highlighting the need to improve roads around Kempshott. He wants a bypass through Manydown, coming out near the M3 at Junction 7 which he believes will help to control traffic levels at Five Ways, Pack Lane and Kempshott Lane. If it uses the planned access through Hounsome Fields, that will protect Old Down too.

He also believes that the A30 corridor, including the Brighton Hill roundabout, needs urgent upgrading.

Tony says he is eager to work with current Conservative councillors and the town;s MP so that residents have a team, working together, and all pulling in the same direction for residents.

Grant Donohoe, Labour

Grant Donohoe, is a teacher, a father of three daughters, and cares for a rescue dog called Peanut which is out campaigning too.

He says he running in Kempshott as he believe Labour should work as hard for voters all over Basingstoke; as he says Labour councillors do in their wards.

Mr Donohoe said: "The Conservative-run council is complacent. A cosy relationship between Hampshire County Council, developers and BDBC is failing local people. Promises on traffic, infrastructure and healthcare are broken and nothing is done. The Conservatives refuse to offer guarantees to protect Old Down from damaging roads. Manydown depends on broad outline planning permissions without proper protections for key priorities like affordable housing. Kempshott needs a strong voice to speak out on green spaces, traffic, Manydown, schools and key facilities like a community café or GP surgery.

"This is a by-election, the winner serves until May 2019. Read my “manifesto” and elect me. If I fail you, sack me and return to having three Conservative and just one voice. Basingstoke Labour is growing and working hard for local people. Please send a message that Kempshott cannot be taken for granted. Conservatives say they believe in competition, let’s give them some. It’s time for change."

Stavroulla O'Doherty, Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrat Stav O’Doherty is the only candidate in the by-election who lives in Kempshott.

Recently retired after a career in finance and a fellow of the pensions management institute, Stav says she wants to 'stop the Tories wasting millions of pounds of taxpayers' money whilst cutting investment in essential services'.

She said: “It's time for fresh thinking. The Tories have given away public land rent-free, donated building costs to developers, and built a hotel that even its own highly-paid consultants said we don't need. How does that help us?

"Meanwhile, Labour are too busy fighting amongst themselves to do anything useful.

"We should be investing in better roads and maintaining them properly. We should be investing better public transport to protect to help everyone get around. We should be protecting our precious green spaces, such as Old Down.

“This by-election is our chance to vote for change. I encourage you to send the Conservatives and Labour a clear message by voting for the party that stands up for you.”