Craig Monks for Beaminster area ward
Your strong local voice focussed on your local issues!
1️⃣ Safety and Well-being 2️⃣ Enhancing Connectivity 3️⃣ Your Voice, Your Share
After four fulfilling years as Chairman of Beaminster Town Council, I'm excited to represent our beautiful Beaminster area on the Dorset County Council.
My top priorities reflect the local concerns and aspirations of our community:
1️⃣ Safety and Well-being:
I am committed to tackling anti-social behaviour, crime, and enhancing public safety and social health. I will work tirelessly to improve road safety, including advocating for 20 mph limits within our ward which I am currently leading on. I feel that my 16 years of experience in Policing and 13 years as a town and parish councillor make me the right person to tackle these issues as a local priority.
2️⃣ Enhancing Local Connectivity:
Championing the importance of public transport and rural connectivity is crucial. I have a track record in safeguarding services like the number 6 bus. Volunteering as a driver and volunteer for the CB3 bus and most recently lobbying Dorset council and our MP to protect the ring and ride service. I also worked to secure funding which resulted in Beaminster being the first full-fibre town in West Dorset, and I will keep working to improve access to other important services such as cash and banking for our residents. These local issues affect us all from children going to school or college to residents who rely on public transport for essential travel. These are local problems I will fight to improve.
3️⃣ Your Voice, Your Share:
Our Town and villages deserve a strong local voice to champion our local issues in the decision-making processes of Dorset County Council. I'm dedicated to ensuring that Beaminster gets its fair share of public services, investment, and representation in the County Council including finding ways to offer better financial support to local groups that provide vital community services such the Prout bridge project, CB3 and ring and ride services. My priority is your local priorities. These are the things that affect you and our ward the most!
I have taken on a diverse range of local community projects over the years, from organising our regular litter picks to actively participating in the council's local engagement plan during the challenging times of COVID-19. These initiatives have allowed me to connect with my fellow community members, fostering a sense of unity and a cleaner, more vibrant environment. In addition, I've been privileged to lead various local community events, including the memorable Jubilee celebration, Christmas lights and the Coronation which brought our community together.
I'm proud of my active involvement in initiating the Beaminster Community Fridge and establishing a valuable partnership with Fareshare to deliver the Beaminster Community Larder. These local initiatives has been a significant force in our community, effectively diverting tons of food from ending up in landfills and instead, redistributing it within our local area.
In addition, I coordinated the Plastic Free Beaminster campaign, working closely with schools, businesses, and community groups to promote our shared commitment to reducing plastic waste.
These efforts reflect our community's dedication to sustainability, addressing food waste issues, and promoting eco-conscious practices to create a healthier and more environmentally responsible neighborhood.
My commitment to our local rural connectivity is unwavering and evident in my volunteer work as a driver for the Beaminster town councils CB3 bus service, providing crucial transportation services to our community.
Beyond that, I have actively engaged with our local Member of Parliament, Chris Loder MP, to advocate for improved and more reliable public transport in our local rural areas.
I have made a strong case for the necessity of better connectivity, not just for local transportation, But also with essential services like banking and access to cash to remain accessible to our rural residents. My dedication to enhancing connectivity is driven by a genuine desire to improve the quality of life in our rural community and make it more accessible for us all.
My Plan to be accessible to you
I really understand the importance of being accessible to you. So I have procuded the below list of actions so you have many opportunities to contact me with an issues or concerns you might have.
1) I will publish a regular newsletter outlining any announcements or information that might help you, including information around community meetings and events to attend.
2) I will launch the 'Beaminster Ward community forum'. These meetings will be help every other month and will be held across the ward for residents to attend and meet me in a group format. There will be no formal agenda as this will be directed by public rather than me.
3) I will attend Beaminster, Mosterton and South Parrott full council meetings (calendar permitting) and will hold a Cllr surgery for a hour beforehand.
4) I will be available for one to one meetings for confidencial issues either in person or via zoom call if requested.
5) I will continue to volunteer for local projects such as litter picking so I am accessible in this setting.
6) I will also continue to write in local publications as well as regularly sharing useful content via my social media channels.
CONTACT ME
I would love to hear from you.
Promoted by Ashley Fraser of 9 Challacombe Square, Poundbury, Dorchester DT1 3SX.
