I’m proud to be standing as the Reform UK candidate for Locks Heath. As a younger resident, I care deeply about protecting what makes this community special, but also about making sure it has a future for the next generation.

In speaking to people across Locks Heath, it’s clear that many feel things are starting to slip. Traffic is getting worse, local services are under pressure, and new development keeps being approved without the infrastructure to support it. Roads are more congested, GP appointments are harder to get, and schools are already stretched. People are asking a simple question — why is this still happening?

For people my age, there’s an added concern. It often feels like long-term decisions are being made without thinking about the future we will inherit. We want to be able to stay in the areas we grew up in, access local services, and build our lives here — but that becomes harder when planning is short-term and infrastructure is ignored.

Housing is a big part of that. Prices continue to rise, and for many younger people, getting onto the housing ladder feels increasingly out of reach. More and more are having to stay living with their parents far longer than they expected, not by choice but because there are simply no realistic options locally. We need a more balanced approach that delivers the right homes in the right places, so young people in Locks Heath have a genuine chance to build a future here.