With local elections coming on Thursday, May 4, we reached out to every party standing in Stevenage and asked them why people should vote for them.

Here's what they had to say.

Conservatives

"It is important to choose the party that represents your interests in the upcoming local elections on Thursday, May 4. Stevenage Conservatives have a proven track record of delivering on their promises to the community and ensuring that the needs of residents are met.

"People are justifiably concerned about the control of residential development in our town. Conservatives will concentrate on building more family-friendly houses instead of just flats, ensuring that there is a better balance of housing for all ages and family sizes.

"We are also committed to finding parking solutions that will reduce the stress and frustration experienced by residents. We understand that finding parking spaces, especially close to home, is a major issue for Stevenage residents. We are dedicated to finding solutions that will improve everyone's quality of life.

"Anti-social behaviour is an increasing worry for many. The Conservatives are committed to reducing anti-social behaviour and ensuring that our streets are safe and clean for everyone.

"We will work with the police and local communities to achieve that. Graffiti, litter and fly-tipping are a blight in many areas of Stevenage and we are committed to ensuring that our streets are clean, green and free from litter.

"The Conservatives are the choice for residents of Stevenage who want to see real change in their local area. Our track record of delivering on our promises and working for the benefit of the community speaks for itself.

"We urge you to consider the Conservatives and what we can do for you and your community when you vote on Thursday, May 4."

Greens

"In June 2019, Stevenage Borough Council declared a Climate Emergency.

"Since then, the response has left a lot to be desired, leading one councillor to state in a committee meeting in December 2022  'that there were concerns about how much the Council was committed to the Climate Change emergency'.

"We need a Green Party voice on Stevenage Borough Council if we are to make real progress on mitigating the effects of climate change.

"When a member of the public asks a question of the council, they are given an answer in writing. They can then ask a subsequent question, but they have no right of reply to the answer they are given.

"A Green Party Councillor would be able to champion concerns over the environment and the climate and carry on conversations and dialogue outside of the formal meetings.

"We need work to be done on behavioural change to look at how more residents of Stevenage can be enabled or encouraged to undertake more active travel, Green Party councillors would be pushing for urgent work to be done on this. We have many footpaths and cycle paths, lets see what needs to be done to get more people using them.

"We have a review of the Stevenage Local Plan in 2023, it is vital that we have a Green Party voice at the centre of the discussions on this to ensure that all developments are built with sustainability at their heart."

Labour

"Stevenage Labour Party puts the needs of our town’s residents first. We don’t just talk about what we will do, Stevenage’s Labour Council has a track record of delivering.

"We achieved 117 of the 120 of our previous manifesto pledges (the other three were delayed by Covid). Our current manifesto is even more ambitious, with 150 pledges based on the priorities set by local people. You can read it on our website at stevenagelabour.org.

"Our main priorities for this year’s local elections will be to support residents through the Tory-created cost of living crisis, ensuring residents can access the support they need.

"We will tackle crime in our community, working with the police to combat antisocial behaviour and lobbying Tory-run Herts County Council to improve local streetlights.

"Local people need local homes, and Labour will build hundreds more sustainable, energy efficient Council homes to cut waiting lists.

"We will deliver a cleaner, greener Stevenage by continuing to improve our parks, launch an anti-litter campaign and support strong enforcement against fly tipping.

Local elections are about local issues but they are also an opportunity to send a clear message to government. Since 2010, successive Conservative governments have cut £11 million from our Council’s income – money that could be spent on providing even better local services and keep your council tax down.

"The Tories in Hertfordshire County Hall refuse to properly fund Children’s Services, forcing the closure of Play Centres in Stevenage. Whilst the Tories continue to wreak havoc on our NHS, Labour plans to double the number of medical school places and train 10,000 new nurses and midwives across the country, to the benefit of our beloved Lister Hospital.

"Stevenage is one of the best places in the country to live. A vote for Labour will keep it that way."

Liberal Democrats

"Since the 1980s the Liberal Democrats in Stevenage have worked hard to serve their residents and to provide a strong, constructive and much-needed opposition on Stevenage Council which has been dominated by Labour.

"We want people in Stevenage to benefit from the community-based care for residents’ safety and well-being that is already enjoyed by residents of our held wards in Chells and Manor.

"People there already benefit from additional public benches, litter and salt bins, safer footways, local emergency defibrillators, more street lights, and new play equipment, all of which we have funded from our local budgets.

"The Lib Dem ambition is to make sure Stevenage Council always spends residents’ money effectively and spends it on things people want. We want to slash the time people wait to occupy empty houses by accelerating repairs and prioritising energy efficiency measures.

"We want to work closely with the County Council to prevent traffic problems like the chaos on Lytton Way. We want to guarantee everyone affected by planning applications is consulted and to make sure their views are properly considered. We want to ensure planning breaches are always dealt with quickly and fixed.

"The Lib Dems want it to be a pleasure to deal with the council by making sure no-one is left hanging on for phones to be answered and by ensuring it’s easy to find the information people want on the council website in an accessible way.

"The Liberal Democrats have always campaigned for powerful and effective local government that is accountable and works with the people it serves. Electing a Liberal Democrat will elect a champion with ambition for the town and a desire to serve local people in the best possible way.

Reform UK

"Reform UK stands for small government, reduced legislation and simplified tax, the intrusiveness of past governments is due to a belief that they have become the centre point of this nation, comforted by the fact that no matter how bad they are, they will always be voted into power.

"The British voter has fallen into a trap, manipulated into believing the established parties have their interest in mind, yet time after time they fail to deliver.

"Reform UK will stand by the people, stand by their families, friends, communities and this nation, they will be the parties centre point, not the international elites dragging us into an undemocratic world order.

"People today have more common sense than the very people who believe they have the power to run this country, terrible politicians are now the norm.

"The same thinking applies at local level too, we will make residents relevant again, changing the criteria to social housing to support local residents - fight against further development of green belt sites – allow resident committees a more powerful voice – create incentives to entice enterprise to train and employ more local people - remove excuses and red tape – less politics in favour of good common sense ideas.

"Reform UK’s website contains so much information about our policies, take a look. Set aside left and right wing politics, it is time to ask parties to deliver instead of breaking their promises.

"Visit our website, read all about us: www.reformparty.uk/reformisessential."

Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts

"We are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis and the gap between the richest and poorest in society is getting wider. It shouldn't have to be that way. Britain is one of the richest countries in the world.

"However, under the Tory government energy companies make huge profits while some people cannot afford to heat their homes. We say re-nationalise the energy companies and the other privatised utility companies.

"None of the other political parties offers any real alternative to the Tory party and that includes Starmer’s Labour Party.

"In Stevenage the Labour controlled council has recently announced the closure of three play centres in the town. Over the years these play centres have provided a valuable resource during the school holidays. Why should these cuts have to be passed on to working class people?

"We oppose all cuts to council services, and we demand that central government restore the cuts to local authority funding. Since 2010 these cuts add up to over 50 per cent of total government funding.

"Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) would also implement a needs-based budget and launch a mass campaign to defend against any opposition from central government towards elected TUSC councillors who take this stand.

"We fully support and offer our solidarity to all those Trade Unionists including nurse's junior doctors royal mail workers and teachers taking part in strike action. They are demanding higher wages and better working conditions. They are sending a strong message to the Tory government that thousands of workers are prepared to struggle.

"However, we also need a political party that defends the interests of workers and introduces socialist policies. The TUSC is a step towards that goal.

"TUSC will be standing candidates across the country in the local elections on May 4. In Stevenage candidates will be standing under the TUSC banner as well."