■ When I last ran for the council in 2014, I promised residents of Derwent Avenue that I would pursue the decades old problem of the state of the road, regardless of whether or not I won. Although I lost to Labour, I continued to pursue this matter. After my lobbying about the derelict state of the road and the petition which you signed and I handed over to County Council Leader Ian Hudspeth, the County Council has allocated money to rebuilding the road. This will be a major project but it is needed instead of the usual “patch and crack” approach. I look forward to its start in 2016.

Promoted and printed by Matthew Barber on behalf of Mark Bhagwandin and Oxford East Conservatives all of 8 Gorwell, Watlington, OX49 5QE.

Mark Bhagwandin your Conservative candidate working for you all year round

TimeforChangeREBUILDING DERWENT AVENUE

Mark Bhagwandin and Ian Hudspeth inspecting the state of the road at Derwent Avenue in 2014

In 2014 you will remember that we fought a rigorous campaign on behalf of local residents and took the fight to Labour, pushing our share of the vote from 22% to 29%. One in three voters in this ward voted for change last time. I am proud to have been re-selected to contest Headington Hill & Northway in 2016, and believe that together we can end Labour’s neglect of the area by electing a Conservative voice to the City Council. In recent weeks I have been speaking to residents and carrying out a survey. The survey is revealing that many people have no idea who their local Labour councillors are, much less be aware of what they have done or are doing for the community. It is unacceptable for councillors to show up only at election time expecting to be voted in regardless of their performance in representing the interest of the people. The people of Headington Hill and Northway should not be taken for granted and it is time for change. I have kept in touch with many of you since the last elections and have worked on a number of pressing issues which I promised to address regardless of who you voted for last time. The results of my intervention on issues have been seen and are being seen. I want to thank all those who have taken the time to speak to me on the doorstep so far and I look forward to meeting many more of you in the coming months.

Mark BhagwandinLOCAL ISSUES, LOCAL ACTION, LOCAL CONSERVATIVES

■ I have been working closely with residents of Northway to oppose the road from the new Barton development cutting through Northway. Labour councillors are in full support of this road and have attacked residents for fighting against it. Northway residents have had to watch as trees planted decades ago, were chopped down (during the season when that is prohibited) to make way for the road. They have since had to endure loud noise of traffic on the A40 night and day. I am also concerned about the increased risk of pedestrian casualties on the A40 with the opening up of the barriers. There have been four pedestrian deaths in 10 years on the A40 Northern By-Pass. This could become much higher with the removal of the fence at Foxwell Drive especially since the opening is quite near to a children’s playground.

Housing is needed in Oxford but the Barton link road coming through Northway is NOT essential to the Barton development. There is already a road system which can be used. This is a plan to put a shortcut through Northway regardless of the negative impact on residents of this community. Labour councillors who have been pushing this should be ashamed of themselves for the way they have treated residents of this community over this issue.

BARTON LINK ROAD COULD RISK LIVES

SAVING MARSTON CHILDREN CENTRE■ I do not support the closure of children centres in Oxford. Two years ago when the proposal to close the centres was first discussed I publicly stated my opposition and actively campaigned against it. I invited the leader of the county council to visit the Marston Children Centre to see the wide range of work being done there to help vulnerable families. I also submitted a petition from residents against the proposal to close the Marston Children Centre. I continue to lobby against the closure.

“I am convinced that they represent a valuable lifeline not just to children but to vulnerable families in some of Oxford’s most deprived areas. The closure of children’s centres would also represent a false economy because the myriad services they currently provide would have to be picked up by other related services.” Comment by Mark Bhagwandin, Oxfordshire Guardian on 19 October 2015

Staff at the Marston Children Centre explaining the work of the Centre to Ian Hudspeth and Mark Bhagwandin in 2013

■ Residents have raised the issue of speeding and rat running through Saxon Way. Recently someone’s pet cat was run over by a speeding car. Desperate residents who have raised this issue for years with Labour councillors have now taken to scrawling across the road their own sign for drivers to slow down. There is need for proper signs on this road and the enforcement of the 20MPH speed limit. I am looking into this and will update you in due course.

SPEEDING ON SAXON WAY

It’s a two horse race! Only the Conservatives can beat Labour here!In the latest local elections in Headington Hill & Northway, Mark Bhagwandin came a strong second to Labour’s candidate. Mark secured more votes from local people than the Green and Lib Dem candidates combined!

Get in touch with Mark...mark.bhagwandin@oxfordshireconservatives.com

07834 405055