Shropshire Star

Candidates put on spot in Shrewsbury pre-election hustings

The state of the bus station, flooding and the countryside – these were among the issues put to those wanting to represent Shrewsbury in Parliament.

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The five hoping to represent the county town at Westminster were put on the spot at a hustings event at Shrewsbury College last night.

And the debate got heated, with candidates clashing over whether the Government's controversial badger cull had been a success or not.

Candidates Daniel Kawczynski – the current Conservative MP – Dr Laura Davies of Labour, Christine Tinker of the Liberal Democrats, Suzanne Evans of Ukip and Emma Bullard of the Green Party also answered questions on the budget and the European Union.

The evening started with a question from Andrew Mason, who asked the candidates what impact the Budget would have on Shropshire businesses.

Ms Tinker said: "I think the Budget is mainly positive for Shrewsbury. The biggest thing to tackle is business rates – my company nearly went out of business when the rates were put up.

"Overall we now have a stronger economy. As the income of people is being helped by the personal allowance increase it means more money in the system which will help businesses.

Ms Evans said: "I don't think it is going to have much of an effect on Shrewsbury businesses. I would have liked to have seen the personal allowance go up to £13,000 and people on the minimum wage should not be taxed at all."

Back, from left; Daniel Kawczynski, Christine Tinker, Dr Laura Davies, Emma Bullard and Suzanne Evans. Front; Kevin Lockwood, vice chair of the business chamber, Karen Burgoyne, organiser from the business chamber, and Steve Wain, college principal and a member the business chamber.

She also said Ukip planned to reduce business rates by five per cent.

The candidates were then quizzed about business rates and their effect on companies. Dr Davies said: "I agree business rates are pushing small businesses to their limits. Labour will cut business rates and improve investments."

Ms Bullard said she wanted business rates replaced by land value tax and Mr Kawczynski said he guaranteed there will be a review of business rates soon.

When questioned about promoting Shrewsbury town centre, Mr Kawczynski said: "People aspire to live in Shrewsbury and we need to work with the unitary authority to maintain its beauty. After 30 meetings with Network Rail they have confirmed there will be £10 million spent on refurbishing Shrewsbury train station. The work will start on this at the end of the year. I want to lobby to electrify the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton line."

Candidates then went on to answer a question about the poor quality of Shrewsbury's bus station.

Dt Davies said it was due to the massive amount of cuts to the bus services and said it needed to be invested in.

Ms Evans said: "It costs less to get a bus in London than Shrewsbury – we need to invest in rural bus services not cut them."

A member of the public then asked the candidates whether the proposed HS2 rail service would do anything for Shropshire.

Ms Tinker said: "HS2 will bring huge benefits to the Midlands but we need better links to it."

Mr Kawczynski added: "HS2 is vital to free up capacity on the network. I am lobbying for four instead of two services to London daily and the HS2 could help get more."

Dr Davies said: "Despite Shrewsbury's merits not many people are going to come from London to Shrewsbury to shop. All it is going to do is send more people to London impacting on the businesses. I am concerned about the cost of HS2."

The candidates also answered a question about the rural economy. Mr Kawczynski said he supported the badger cull to tackle TB but Ms Bullard said it was a "complete failure" and did not support the cull.

One of the final questions to the candidates was from Michael Connor whose house has been flooded 10 times. He asked candidates about an appointment of a flood champion. Ms Tinker said the flood defences have benefited the town and said the Environment Agency did a good job in difficult circumstances.

Ms Bullard said she wanted more investment in natural flood defences and not building in flood-prone areas and Dr Davies said she backed the suggestion of flood "tsar".

Mr Kawczynski said Shrewsbury had been given £6.2 million for flood defences.

The event at the college's Origins restaurant was put on by Shrewsbury Business Chamber in the run-up to May's General Election and was compered by chamber member and BBC Radio Shropshire presenter Jim Hawkins.

* An election hustings will be held in Oswestry with all five candidates for North Shropshire taking part.

It has been organised by Churches Together in Oswestry District and will take place on April 28 in the Methodist Church Hall in Castle Street at 7.30pm. It will be chaired by Rev Simon Thorburn, vicar of St Oswald's Parish Church, and everyone is welcome to attend.

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