Some straight talking from the chair as GMRA look to decide on which group offers up the best candiates for Greenhithe at the upcoming May elections…

Dear elected members of the Swanscombe and Greenhithe Town Council.

We are only a few months away from the May Elections and we would like to get to know The Swanscombe and Greenhithe Residents Associations Greenhithe Candidates as such we would appreciate you letting us know who they are along with their contact details.

With regards to the May elections you will be aware that we have begun a conversation with prospective conservative candidates via their blog and ours.

We would like to engage with current elected members from the Swanscombe and Greenhithe Residents Association and their nominated candidates but unfortunately we cannot find a blog or website for this elected group, hence the reason why we are contacting the Councils Town Clerk to see if the Town Council (or those elected members with email) could help or at least kindly pass our message on to all of those elected members who are difficult to reach and/or do not use email.

Specifically our association is keen to influence political decisions that impact on our member’s daily lives and we think that all Greenhithe residents will agree that the area needs a stronger voice on the Dartford Borough Council. We like so many Greenhithe residents are dissatisfied with the quality and calibre of the current batch of Swanscombe & Greenhithe Town Councillors that a) reside in Swanscombe and b) purport to represent Greenhithe Residents on the Borough Council, when clearly they do not.

Our membership seeks to bring about positive change and wants to see people representing Greenhithe on the Town, Borough and County Councils who are passionate not about being elected but about Greenhithe. What we do not want to see anymore, is Greenhithe represented by elected members, who no doubt mean well, but are unable to understand the fundamental issues that face the Greenhithe Community as a whole.

What we would like to see is a step change in culture and one that moves us away from the current pub-culture that seems to dominate the vast majority of current elected members. Greenhithe needs to be in the future represented by people from Greenhithe who are clearly able to meet the challenges of modern day society.

So respectfully we ask that all future elected members and particularly those candidates representing The Swanscombe & Greenhithe Residents Associations in the MAY elections for Greenhithe, that they are a) from or live in Greenhithe and b) possess the elementary of basic skills and the indispensable wherewithal to use the internet, send and receive emails, work with PDF files and that they are contactable by the simplest of modern day communication systems such as email mobile phone and landline.

We hope you will agree with us that Greenhithe needs to receive the recognition and representation it deserves, many of our members are also life long members of the Swanscombe & Greenhithe Residents Association however, and clearly, many of them are disgruntled, I am only the messenger here but at the same time, I recommend that you heed this message, especially if you would like continued support from those lifelong members at the ballot box in May.

Thus far we are impressed by the quality and calibre of the conservative candidates and all we ask is that you do your upmost to ensure the quality and calibre of the S&GRA candidates that you bring forward match theirs, bearing in mind that Greenhithe needs candidates that are prepared to represent all of Greenhithe and not just those associated within the Greenhithe Click…

Speaking of clicks, if a website a blog a facebook page and a twitter account are too much to ask for in this day and age then its time to ask why are you there when clearly the S&GRAs as a group lacks the basic means and the wherewithal to communicate effectively with the very people they were elected to represent and serve.

We look forward to receiving a positive response by return thank you.

Love + respect
Tony Duke Chair
Greenhithe Marina Residents Association Blog