Hayes is a better place to live than it was 4 years ago – but there’s still more work to do.

As a born and raised local resident, it continues to be the best job in the world to serve the people I grew up with, and give back to the community that has given my family and I so much.

Undoubtedly, the most important issue for residents in Hayes is crime and antisocial behaviour – and Tom, Alexa and I have managed to deliver real results. New Vehicle Activated Signs have been installed on Baston Road, Pickhurst Lane and Bourne Vale to combat speeding; whilst new speed humps were installed in the car park on Station Approach to combat antisocial behaviour at night – which has since stopped.

Against a backdrop of funding pressures faced by local government nationwide, we have delivered investment into our community. £10,000 will be invested in improving Chilham Way shopping parade, with new benches, planters and a village sign to be installed in the coming weeks. New equipment is to be installed at Norman Park playground, and we hope to hear very soon about what we hope will be investment into new equipment at Husseywell Park playground too, following £2,000 of donations we have secured. We also await the improvement of facilities at Hayes Library over the summer, following work on libraries across the Borough.

The result of this, I believe, is that Hayes is a better place to live than it was when I first was elected. We have delivered for you, your family and our community.

But there is still more to do to make Hayes even better.

We need to do even more to combat speeding. More measures are desperately needed, especially on Bourne Vale. I will continue to push for more investment in whatever is needed to solve this issue – pushing back against TfL and their lack of funding for anti-speeding initiatives.

Speaking of transport, we need to continue to push for ticket barriers at Hayes Station. This will go some way to solving issues around antisocial behaviour on Station Approach. As well as this, we will campaign against Sadiq Khan’s assault on our local bus services – and I look forward to seeing our petition against cuts to the 138 services presented at City Hall later this year.

And on crime, we will continue to push the Met to tackle car theft, and await their improved approach to tackling the issue, based on their successful plan to tackle shop theft.

I’m proud to serve as one of your local Councillors, and I want to finish the job I started. By continuing to push for funding, and working collaboratively with residents, I believe the work of making Hayes even better is deliverable, and within touching distance of being achieved.

So, in essence, what is my message to residents? Lots done – but lots more to do.