Kate Hebditch will be the candidate for Dorchester East in the Dorset Council local elections on May 2nd 2024.
Kate says "I moved to Dorchester in 1989 to work at the Dorset Museum and have lived here ever since. I served as a Town Councillor from 2003 to 2011 and Mayor in 2007-8.
"I’ve worked with the Dorchester Heritage Committee on projects to tell the town’s amazingly rich story and I led Weymouth’s Nothe Fort through Covid closures to success as England’s best small visitor attraction.
"I founded the STAND campaign to protect the countryside north of Dorchester from massive housing developments. (But I’d be delighted to see houses being built on the former prison site.)
"I was Vice-Chair of West Dorset for Europe and campaigned actively for us to remain in the EU. I’ve volunteered with several Dorchester organisations and I help run the Riverside Nature Reserve.
"I joined the Green Party at the beginning of the Pandemic, which I saw as the strongest wake-up call yet for us to look after our world. I want to play my part in protecting Dorset’s world-class environment and making it one of the best communities to live in."
No” to the proposed 4,000 new houses…
Kate founded the STAND Campaign in 2018 to prevent a massive development of 4,000 new houses north of Dorchester. The proposed development would: be larger than Poundbury be poorly connected to Dorchester due to frequent flooding in the river valley lead to more traffic and demands on local services such as the hospital, GPs and schools be environmentally damaging and remove land from agricultural production.
...Build for local need on the former prison site
The Dorchester Prison site has been empty for 10 years, but could provide much needed housing for local people.
Protect the River Frome
Our river is one of only around 200 chalk streams in the world. Building just above the River Frome’s floodplain will damage its environment and that of the internationally important Poole Harbour, into which it flows.
Promote local tourism
Only 4% of tourists visiting Dorset came to Dorchester last year. We can do better.
We have a spectacular new Dorset Museum and a really rich heritage. Kate will work with Dorchester’s museums and heritage organisations to increase sustainable tourism – bringing new life back to the town and helping new businesses to open in empty shops.
Greens came second to the Lib Dems in Dorchester East’s most recent council vote. [Dorchester Town Council by-election 2023 - Dorchester East ward]
Conservative or Labour votes are unlikely to determine the outcome of this election in Dorchester East.
Jane Ashdown, Dorchester resident, says: “Through her campaign work with STAND, Kate has demonstrated her commitment to addressing the lack of affordable homes. Kate’s involvement with the Riverside Reserve in Dorchester shows she takes action to protect the environment and health of the River Frome.”
kate.hebditch@dorset.greenparty.org.uk
07875 376679
