I’m Claire, and I am standing to be your Norwich City Councillor for Thorpe Hamlet.

I moved to Norwich in 1986 to study at Norwich School of Art, fell in love with the city and many years later, I am raising my family here.

It is an honour to be a community campaigner in the city I’ve lived in all my adult life, and to be putting something back into a city that’s given me so much.

It is also a privilege to be part of Labour Group, sharing Labour values of fairness, and
equality.

I am pleased to be meeting residents in Thorpe Hamlet again, (albeit from several metres away at the moment). I have also been phoning people to try and talk to as many of you as possible. I want to be accessible to all our residents. My aim is to meet as many people as I can, to help resolve your issues and concerns.

Immediately after becoming Thorpe Hamlet’s Labour city council candidate, I was out canvassing for Clive Lewis in the last General Election. Since then, myself and the team have been working extremely hard, and are delighted that our campaign to have the roads
around Lionwood Junior School go down to a 20mph limit has been approved. I have worked on many ‘mini’ campaigns, on issues including fly tipping and graffiti, and more recently tackling the issue of street sex work through a holistic approach, and on education around idling car engines to reduce air pollution.

We worked as a team on successfully fighting planning permission which involved felling trees including a 200-year-old London Plane. My petition reached 2000 signatures. I am a member of Ketts Heights Executive Committee and support Thorpe Hamlet’s green spaces. I am passionate about Norwich City Council’s green pledges, and I am committed to supporting businesses to reduce their carbon footprint.

The pandemic has hit everyone. I have contributed to making sandwiches during the school holidays, delivered hot curries to homeless hostels and supported and contributed to The Big Give for NHS workers and The Big Easter Give. Outside of campaigning, I work for a charity, as well as at NHS Covid-19 testing sites. I run singing sessions, and I am a member of Rosies Plaques, promoting the history of overlooked women through an art project, making new plaques. I volunteer for People from Abroad, supporting a family from Syria resettling in Norwich.

If you elect me to be your Labour councillor, I will continue to listen to your concerns and I will be a strong voice for you on Norwich City Council, advocating for the needs of Thorpe Hamlet’s community.

I am tenacious and determined, and have a lot of energy to give; I will see things through for Thorpe Hamlet all year round.