Tell us a little bit about yourself
I am Lewis Chinchen, the Conservative Candidate for Stocksbridge and Upper Don. From when I began volunteering at my local charity shop during my teenage years, I have been passionate about engaging with the community.
I now work at a law firm in Sheffield and prior to COVID-19, I was a regular commuter on public transport which is why I advocate for better transport links.
I also Chair Sheffield Young Conservatives which aims to get more young people interested in local and national issues.
What do you think makes a good local councillor?
To be a good Councillor in the area you seek to represent, I believe there are three important points.
Firstly, always consulting local residents will ensure you are representing the whole community, not just a particular section of it.
Secondly, knowing the area well is key to knowing what the issues are and how to solve them.
Thirdly, you need to be passionate about what it is you are attempting to achieve and be focused on delivering the results which constituents want to see.
Tell us three things you're aiming to focus on or achieve for your ward during your term as councillor
1) Improve public transport: This means bus services within Stocksbridge and Upper Don which connect more residential areas to essential destinations like Fox Valley. I also support Miriam Cates MP’s bid to bring passenger trains to Stocksbridge, Deepcar and Oughtibridge.
2) Invest in community facilities: The Conservative Government has given Stocksbridge £24.1 million through the Towns Fund to invest in education, the first phase of the regeneration of Manchester Road and much more. I will work hard to ensure projects are delivered and campaign for other community facilities, such as the playground at Glen Howe Park, to get the necessary funding for upgrades.
3) Reduce anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping: I want to see the Neighbourhood Policing Team based at Deepcar get sufficient resources on the back of the Conservative Government’s investment in South Yorkshire policing to put more focus on anti-social behaviour. I also want to see stronger deterrents for fly-tippers.
Tell us three things you're aiming to focus on or achieve for the city of Sheffield during your term as councillor
Sheffield Council needs to be more bold and visionary in its leadership of our city. We have fallen behind some of our competitors which calls for fresh ideas and action.
Firstly, we need to be more ambitious in bringing in business investment to our city. There are several tools we can use to achieve this goal, for example business rebates, loans for capital investment as well as making High Streets cleaner, greener and generally more attractive places to be.
We also need a transport system fit for a city the size of Sheffield. That doesn’t just mean a wider choice of public transport but also a more integrated transport network with more coordination between timetables as well as tickets which can be used across multiple forms of transport. I also want to make our roads safer for cyclists to promote active travel.
Furthermore, I think we need to have a city-wide effort to protect more green spaces and where developments are necessary, focus on brownfield sites.
Transport: The Sheffield City Region bus services should be taken back into public ownership
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral/Other
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
If you'd like to add details on your position, please do so here
One of the most important points to make when it comes to buses is that there should always be accountable leadership and full consultation to ensure the needs of the community come first. Any reforms to who actually runs the buses must be fully evaluated based on the impact on routes, frequency, reliability and fares.
Economy: A Universal Basic Income pilot should happen in Sheffield
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral/Other
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
If you'd like to add details on your position, please do so here
As we see robotics impact jobs and society in a much more significant and large-scale way, the need for a Universal Basic Income may become greater. However, I do not think society is currently at this point.
Democracy: How would you like Sheffield City Council to be run?
- By a leader who is an elected councillor chosen by a vote of the other elected councillors (this is how the council is run now)
- By one or more committees made up of elected councillors (this would be a change from how the council is run now)
Social: Do you agree with the finding of the Government's Sewell Report stating the UK is no longer institutionally racist?
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral/Other
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
If you'd like to add details on your position, please do so here
The report rightly acknowledges that overt racism still exists in some areas of society, particularly online. I agree with the findings that factors such as geography and socio-economic background often have a more significant impact on life chances. There is a risk that we may not be able to deal with the challenges facing our society if we oversimplify and generalise issues which are very complex.