Watford by-election candidates debate issues at hustings

Liberal Democrat Lizz Ayre, Conservative Binita Mehta, the Green Party’s Su Murray and the UK Independence Party’s Renie Price discussed a range of topics, at the Centrepoint Community Centre last night.

The Labour candidate, Avril Haley, did not attend as the party said it felt the hustings had been politically compromised.

During the debate, which was moderated by Fr David Stevenson from St John’s Church, the four candidates were quizzed on everything from dog mess and anti-social behaviour to their views on the council transparency.

At the start of the event, which was hosted by the Radlett Road Community Association, each candidate was given five minutes to tell the packed meeting hall as to why residents should vote for them on November 15.

The by-election was called after Liberal Democrat Chris Leslie resigned his Watford Borough Council seat to take a job in the midlands.

Lizz Ayre said she had been inspired to run in the election by the work of the area’s other Liberal Democrat councillors and promised to work hard for the residents of Central ward if elected.

The 24-year-old cafe owner also criticised Labour for boycotting the event.

Ms Ayre said: "It does sadden me that there was such controversy surrounding the event and that for whatever reason one party thought it was not important to come and meet the people who matter."

The Green candidate Su Murray, 52, promised to work towards "a more cohesive community" if elected.

The 22-year-old Conservative candidate Binita Mehta said no politician possessed "magic solutions" to the areas problems and promised to work with other parties to tackle issues in central Watford.

Whereas UKIP’s Renie Price, 63, said was angry with the way Watford Town Hall was spending taxpayers’ money without asking people what they want.

She added: "UKIP will ask people what they want not just impose things."

Residents at the meeting were asked a range of question about what improvements they would bring about in central Watford from dog mess bins for the Radlett Road estate, to improving war memorials and signage around the town centre.

One older resident asked the panel if any of them had been pressured to stand as they were female. All the candidates said they had volunteered to stand in the by-election.

The candidates were also asked about the council’s refusal, citing commercial confidentiality, to tell taxpayers how much the developers Henry Boot had been paid when the borough terminated its contract to refurbish the Charter Place shopping centre.

The Watford Observer later revealed that the company had been paid over £500,000 after the contract was axed. The council ended its agreement with Henry Boot to switch the revamp of Charter Place to the owners of the Harlequin, Capital Shopping Centres.

Su Murray said of the Greens said companies wanting taxpayer money should waive any claims to commercial confidentiality as residents have a right to know how their money is spent.

Binita Mehta said she thought the switch would be beneficial in the long run as she felt the owners of the Harlequin would do a good job of improving Charter Place.

Renie Price argued that UKIP would always be transparent with taxpayers and Lizz Ayre said she did not know enough about the Henry Boot saga to comment.