Standing for election for the Conservative Party in North Jesmond, Aaron Whelan Harvey is an International Politics student at Northumbria University. In his spare time, he enjoys boxing and says he hopes to apply his academic knowledge to the position of Newcastle City Councillor. We asked him to tell us a little bit more about himself, what he thinks needs fixing in Jesmond and why voters should consider putting an X against his name on Thursday 5th May.

Why run for local election?

“I want to put my studies into practice. With current politics, especially in the Jesmond area, I see the need for younger and stronger leadership. I want to transfer the knowledge I have into contemporary politics and help improve the area.”

What are the main issues you would tackle in Jesmond?

“My main standpoint is community. Jesmond is a close-knit community and when talking to residents, I know the ‘love thy neighbour’ principle comes up a lot. I really like that, so I plan to improve a wider sense of community and create local community groups. I’m also supporting local businesses in the area. I’m a big believer in the environment. I have done a little bit of work in Jesmond Dene. We want to improve the potholes, litter and general public services. I want people to feel attached to Jesmond and enjoy where they live through a sense of community. I want a sense of belonging for all people regardless of gender, social class, race or ethnicity. I am offering a fresh start to Jesmond with better representation.”

What is your opinion of the Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme?

“We know that 23% of Jesmond is already in the low traffic scheme. That’s not enough. Jesmond is accessible via foot to all its amenities. I want to lower the emissions in the area. I would propose a project, that uses bottom-up democracy. I would go into local groups in Jesmond and lead a project that is guided by the people. I am supportive of any sort of scheme that makes roads and streets safe for children, encourages more cycling and reduces carbon emissions.”

How would you combat anti-social behaviour?

“Recently, I have been working at the Whitley Bay Metro station, alongside police and the security staff, to help combat anti-social behaviour. The strategies implemented have led to a decline in anti-social behaviour. I would introduce similar projects. Conservatives, through the Safer Streets funds, delivered £431,000 for new CCTV cameras that can read registration plates from 200m away. This is a good start but I want more invested in Jesmond.”

How would you seek to bridge the gap between local and student residents?

“I want to be the face of tackling that gap, as a student. I come from both a student and resident perspective. Both permanent and temporary residents are a part of the community and I want to get people to network with each other. It’s a priority of mine to dismantle the division. Employment is important to close the divide. Using the Kickstart scheme, the government has been able to help more than 5,310 young people into jobs. The more places in Jesmond we can add to this scheme, the more integrated both permanent and temporary residents will become. This will also help create a wider sense of community.”

What would you do to improve the environment in Jesmond?

“I’m out there, litter picking and helping out, specifically in Jesmond Dene. I want to help get the green lungs of Newcastle working. I want to reduce emissions in Jesmond by supporting the Low Traffic scheme. We are stewards of this environment.”

JesmondLocal will be hosting its local election hustings on Tuesday 3rd of May at Jesmond Library from 7:45pm-9:45pm. Submit your questions for the candidates via the event Facebook page. The event is open to all, so come along to find out more about the candidates, their priorities, policies and plans – and get a chance to have your say.