With the local elections campaign now well underway, reporter Jack Dyson went along to a hustings in St Stephen's ward. From rubbish collections at night to avoid seagulls, to rows over the Station Road West multi-storey car park, there was much to discuss...

As the sun began to set, I approached the entrance to St Stephen’s Church Hall. Several clusters of people were waiting, among them a quartet of students. “Shall I mention I’m the president of the political society?” one mused.

Inside there was a long table in front of dozens of people of varying ages perched on plastic chairs. They watched as seven of the candidates vying for their votes on May 2 took their seats for the hustings in St Stephen’s ward - currently held by Conservatives Terry Westgate and Sally Waters.

Following a warning not to mention Brexit from the chairman, Rick Norman, statements about each of the candidates were read out. Labour’s Ben Hickman is a lecturer. His colleague Mel Dawkins is a singer-songwriter and performer. Green Tom Sharp is an academic from the University of Kent. Cllr Westgate enjoys gardening and Cllr Waters is a lay reader at St Stephen’s Church. Lib Dem Neasa MacErlean is fluent in several languages. And fellow Liberal Nick Barnes, who was absent from the meeting, enjoys being on the allotment.

The audience was transfixed.

A red-cheeked man got to his feet to ask the first question. Nodding to the unpopular Station Road West multi-storey car park scheme, he said: “How would they remove or control city planning officers who have approved controversial developments?”

Cllr Westgate fidgeted in his seat as he prepared to mount a defence of the Conservative council. “I’m not saying the multi-storey is perfect,” he said carefully, “but both Sally and I voted for the development”. This triggered an eruption of chatter from the audience. “I can see a lot of people shaking their heads,” he continued, “but it will help the environment. By having it, people won’t have to drive to London – they can leave their cars at the multi-storey and take the train instead.”

As the disapproving whispers and head-shaking continued, ashen-faced councillors Westgate and Waters grimly sank into their seats with folded arms. Smelling blood, the candidates took it in turns to feebly jab the Conservatives.

“Everyone’s in favour of better planning decisions,” Mr Sharp said unconvincingly.

Mr Hickman followed. “We have a housing waiting list of 2,000 people and the council spent £9m on this. It’s one of the most appalling councils and its arrogance is unbelievable.”

The difficulties continued for the Conservatives. Their support for the Kingsmead development was lambasted and long-standing issues with bin collections and Serco were raised.

A dishevelled audience member then asked the councillors what they would do “to battle globalism and capitalism”. Clearly bemused, they stared at him in silence.

“Aside from the multi-storey car park, what would you cut if you had to cut something?” another asked.

Mr Sharp immediately veered off topic. Cllr Waters then had a go. “We have already cut so much, but I said to Terry just now that I’d happily cut hustings.” The joke was met by a smattering of giggles.

“Seagulls sleep at night,” Ms MacErlean said hopefully. “They have the same sleeping patterns as humans. We should have late-night rubbish collections to save money –” Incredulous laughter enveloped the room.

With the clock approaching 9.30pm, Mr Norman brought the meeting to a close. Chairs scraped against the floor as the councillors, candidates and residents filed out of the room. Mr Hickman and Ms Dawkins had confident smiles etched across their faces, while Ms MacErlean grimaced as she packed up her notepad and pen.

Outside, I saw Cllr Westgate’s silhouette. He was stood with a handful of people. “We took a beating in there,” one of them remarked as they began to schlep along Hales Drive. And judging by the tone of the evening’s meeting - and their slim majority in 2015 - the Conservatives’ tight grip on St Stephen’s could be loosening.

A district-wide hustings was set to take place on Wednesday night at The Friars. See next week's Kentish Gazette for a full report.

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