Hustings for AVDC By-election

Hustings were held in the Haddenham Community Library on Wednesday evening, 27th February, prior to the AVDC By-election for the Haddenham Stone District Ward being held on 7th March. A large audience attended, with at least a dozen people having to stand.

The meeting was hosted by the Village Society and was ably chaired by its President, Brian Bowman.

Three candidates were present in person:

* Mark Bale (Conservative)
* Jim Brown (Liberal Democrat)
* David Lyons (Green Party)

Jennifer Tuffley (Labour) was not present — it was explained that she was a busy mum with a young family and, with apologies, was unable to attend the meeting. Local resident and party agent Lindsey Poole stood in to represent the Labour Party's position.

Each of the panel members delivered prepared presentations lasting approximately ten minutes, with the chairman flagging their time limit with a highly appropriate "duck-quacking" alarm — he is the local duck warden, after all!

Candidates then took questions from the floor, which ranged widely from concerns over the extent of local housing development and traffic management to healthcare and school provision, assistance for mental health issues, and the environmental impact of the Oxford-to-Cambridge Expressway.

The evening concluded with a brief summing up from each of the candidates plus Lindsey Poole.