Cllr Ben Foley is standing as the Green candidate for a new ward as he “couldn’t abandon the people of Greyfriars”.
Greyfriars Ward was formed following a review into “electoral inequality” in Bedford borough by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.
It was part of Castle Ward – most of the rest is now the Castle and Newnham Ward.
Cllr Foley was elected in 2019 as a Castle Ward councillor, but he is standing in the new ward because he has “grown close” to the Greyfriars community.
“I could have had a much easier life by standing for re-election in the Castle and Newnham Ward, ” he said.
“It was a massive honour to win the [Castle] ward election in the area last time.
“And it has been even more of an honour to serve the people in the area as their councillor for the last four years,” he said.
He added that he is standing again because there is “still lots of work to do”.
“I’ve seen so much complacency on the council, for example about equality issues, where time and again I’m raising the issue of inadequate Equality Impact Assessments,” he said.
“There’s lots of work still to do in the council just on that one issue, let alone any others.
“It’s the sort of issue where I’m very glad to be a Green councillor.
“Councillors of other parties are told what to do and say, but if I see an issue that needs raising, I’m free to raise it,” he said.
Councillor Foley said he hasn’t just focused on representing the residents of Greyfriars, and the rest of Castle Ward since he was elected.
“I’ve done leadership training with the Local Government Association, and I have supported other Green councillors from around the region,” he said.
“Something I’ve learned from that is how different, different councils are, and especially how different parish councils are from the borough council.”
Councillor Foley said he has been in regular contact with residents, and only Covid restrictions stopped his routine of knocking on doors and asking residents about their concerns.
“I phoned up residents who were shielding, instead,” he said
“One key thing residents mention to me is problems from drug dealing.
“I consider this a real honour because I know it takes trust before residents feel able to raise these problems.
“A part of that has been problems with security in housing association blocks of flats.
“Time and again, housing associations don’t respond to tenants and it takes me pestering the housing association to actually get the problem sorted.
“It shouldn’t need a councillor to pester them, but since it does, I do.”
Residents can follow councillor Foley’s campaign on Facebook (fb.me/BenFoleyGreyfriars).
“Residents don’t need to sign up to Facebook to look at that page,” he said.
“If residents want to contact me then an email to ben.foley@greenparty.org.uk is the best way.
When asked why residents should vote for him this time, councillor Foley said: “I’ve been keeping in regular touch with residents for over six years, with leaflets illustrating what I’ve done, and calling round to talk to them.
“So many residents in Greyfriars have had experience of me getting things done for them.
“That personal experience and word of mouth leave much of the community in no doubt that I get things done,” he said.
by John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
