The Dispatch is taking part in a project to boost voter engagement

An Edmonton Green councillor seeking re-election in May has said the need for more affordable housing is his top priority for the ward.

The Dispatch spoke to Ergin Erbil ahead of the local election to ask what his focus was for Edmonton Green as part of an ongoing project funded by the Public Interest News Foundation (PINF), which seeks to boost democratic engagement in specific communities.

Cllr Erbil, the only current Labour councillor for Edmonton Green standing for re-election in the ward, said housing issues were the most common to be raised on the doorstep.

“People are concerned about affordable housing and the fact the private sector is impossible to access for some people,” he said. “It is becoming more and more unlikely for young people to get on the housing ladder.

“There are also issues with [council] tenants needing repairs and reporting anti-social behaviour. We have made some improvements but there is a lot
more work to do.”

Cllr Erbil said another priority was reducing street litter. “We [the council] have been working hard to tackle this. We have invested £500,000 [per year] into street cleaning but these are big issues that won’t just be tackled
by throwing money at it – we need a multi-agency approach.”

Teleshia Reid and Oktay Cinpolat are both standing in Edmonton Green as independent candidates, on a unified platform, saying they feel “failed” by the Labour administration. Their key issues are opposing the new incinerator, reducing the number of people living in temporary accommodation, providing jobs and opportunities for young people and cleaning Edmonton’s “dirty” streets.

The Dispatch also attempted to approach Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green candidates for Edmonton Green. A full list of candidates who are standing in the ward is listed below. All are invited to attend an event at Community House in Fore Street on Thursday, 14th April, starting 6pm – with voters welcome to come along for a chance to quiz their election candidates.

For more information about the PINF Impact Fund:
Visit publicinterestnews.org.uk/post/pinf-impact-fund-about

Edmonton Green ward candidates:

Abdul Abdullahi (Labour)
Gunes Akbulut (Labour)
Oktay Cinpolat (Independent)
Ergin Erbil (Labour)
Phivos Joannides (Conservative)
Peter John Krakowiak (Green)
Regine Lemberger (Liberal Democrat)
Paul Meehan (Liberal Democrat)
Telesha Reid (Independent)
Andi Smith (Conservative)
Lupita Turner (Liberal Democrat)
Christine Williams (Conservative)

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