I am Charles Suddards and am one of the two Labour Councillors representing the residents of Victoria Ward. I have lived in the town centre for the last 13 years and for 10 of those years I ran a sweet shop in the lower high street.

During my time as councillor I have campaigned on the following; that development in the town should not be only flats, that small businesses within the town should have a meaningful voice and for effective action to be taken in respect of anti-social behaviour and street drinking. My aim is to make sure that the town centre gets a fair deal.

Our (mine and Tania Gauder’s) priorities for Victoria Ward are:

Working with Kent police and other agencies to ensure that the town centre, Victoria Park and its surrounding areas are safer places for all.

Pressing for every household in the town centre to be given access to a parking permit or low-cost parking.

Improving the facilities for young people.

We both live in Victoria Ward and understand the issues facing residents. We will work together to make the town centre a thriving place to live, work and enjoy.

A Labour run council will understand the cost-of- living crisis and the difficulties people are facing. We will work to create more sustainable jobs, refocus Ashford’s housing strategy to build more environmentally friendly and affordable homes, build a safer community and work for the benefit of the residents.

Charles Suddards has previously been one of the two councillors representing the Victoria Ward in Ashford. He started his working life initially selling paintings door to door, and playing drums in a band, before working in the NHS as a porter representing his fellow workers as a branch secretary for the National Union of Public Employees (now Unison). This led to a Law Degree as a mature student, a professional qualification from the Institute of Housing and a career in Welfare Rights and Housing Management in London. He moved to Ashford 10 years ago.

Charles is deeply concerned about the present and future of the town centre. He lives in the town and for many years ran The Old Sweet Shop which he owned until after the first coronavirus lockdown.

Charles is keen to see fuller housing developed within the town rather than a sea of one-bed flats owned by private investors and let at high rents. He is determined to represent the views of Ashford residents in the future of the town.