Bringing debate to the people... (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Bringing debate to the people...

11:44am Wednesday 25th April 2012 in News By Simon Moss

A SERIES of hustings will take place this week with the aim of getting more people involved in the upcoming local elections.

The campaign group SOLVE (Save Our Loddon Valley Environment) is hosting four events in Chineham, Bramley, Old Basing and Sherborne St John, where residents can quiz the candidates hoping for their vote on Thursday, May 3.

Clive Pinder, spokesman for SOLVE, said: “We believe in a fully engaged, democratic process and groups like us are well placed to host events like this, where candidates and the people they want to vote for them can have a constructive exchange of views and residents understand who they are voting for and why.”

All candidates, whether representing the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, UKIP or standing as independents have been invited to the events.

Over the last year, SOLVE has waged a campaign against Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council after claiming sites selected for future development were not judged equally. Specifically, members are angry that the council-owned Manydown land was excluded from the site selection process.

Mr Pinder said: “While SOLVE does have an agenda, we are entirely neutral in the way we host the hustings. We are about positive debate, and we hope that is what will happen.”

A date for the Bramley hustings has yet to be confirmed, but it could be held on Saturday, April 28.

All the hustings will get underway at 7.30pm, and the confirmed ones are as follows: l Tuesday, April 24: Sherborne St John Village Hall, in Elm Road.

l Wednesday, April 25: Old Basing Village Hall, The Street.

l Thursday, April 26: Great Binfields Primary School, in Binfields Farm Lane, Chineham.