As we draw closer to the local elections on Thursday 6 May, Frodsham Nub News has been interviewing those standing for Frodsham ward councillor on Cheshire West and Chester Council, hearing more about their key priorities and what they would hope to achieve if elected.

Most recently, we spoke to Green Party candidate, Sian Day. Having lived in Frodsham for nearly 10 years, Sian has contributed to several local community and voluntary sector groups, from the Youth Club to Climate Action Frodsham and, more recently, Frodsham Root Network.

If elected, Sian would endeavour to draw together the valuable work of community organisations, working collaboratively to turn local knowledge, experience and passion into positive results for the town.

As a councillor, she would focus on enhancing the riches of our local natural environment, finding sustainable solutions to the pressures placed on community facilities, and promoting a green recovery from the pandemic.

Frodsham Nub News: Why did you decide to stand for election to Cheshire West and Chester Council?

Sian Day: "I'm a member of the Green Party and I passionately believe that a more environmentally-friendly society is one that is better. It's not about sacrificing things, but about having a better quality of life, a stronger connection to our communities, and about being kinder to the planet that we're a part of.

"The Council announced a Climate Emergency and response plan in 2020, which is great, but are we just looking at lower carbon ways of living the same lifestyle or are we trying to create a better community for people at all stages of their life? I believe that we now have the chance to do things differently and a good place to start is at council level. I think there are so many opportunities to make our town a better place to live, work, raise a family or spend your retirement in.

"For me, it's really about tapping into the local voluntary sector. I've been involved in this sector professionally for 10 years as a fundraiser for a range of health, social care and environmental charities and understand the pressures it faces. I've also been a volunteer and I know how much work goes into making good things happen locally.

"I know that the Council wants to support local communities but I think that often it is difficult for officers who are not based in Frodsham to understand the ins and outs of our amazing community and volunteer groups. We need those who are within the community to be able to reach out to these groups. When people are given the opportunity to work in partnership they always rise to the occasion and I would love to see more of that because it just makes things work better!"

FNN: How would you work as a councillor to protect and develop Frodsham's parks and play areas for the community?

SD: "In Frodsham we have a real mix of green spaces – parks, public footpaths and natural environments. The main Cheshire West and Chester Council-owned pieces of land are Castle Park and Saltworks.

"Castle Park is a great resource for the town and in lockdown it has been used so much more while people haven't had access to other facilities. This has led to issues such as the bins overflowing, and some might argue that we need more bins in the park. However, I think it would be more practical to find an effective schedule for rubbish collection. In Chester they have trialled smart bins which alert the Council when full, and I think that would be a good thing for Frodsham as well. We've also seen groups like the Frodsham Wombles popping up and being busy keeping our open spaces clear of rubbish and it is people like them who should have a voice in forming future policies for the town.

"It is also important to promote awareness of the best ways to use outdoor spaces. I think the Council could place a greater focus on reminding people to pick up their litter. For some that comes naturally but for others it doesn't, so I think we need to encourage a more responsible interaction with nature.

"Then we turn to Saltworks, which is an area that is in need of regeneration. The playing fields are not being used to their full potential because it gets so waterlogged down there, and the play facilities have not been well cared for. There is a really big under-18 population living in that area and we have recently seen some great initiatives by local residents to engage these young people. I think we should continue asking residents what they want from the space, whether that be new outdoor play facilities, trees, wildflowers or community events. If there is already a strategy for Saltworks it is not particularly obvious and so I would like to find out how we can make sure that these people, who are really active in helping their community, take a front seat in its development."

FNN: Closely related to Frodsham's parks are the town's more natural green spaces. How would you like to see these areas managed so that they are conserved for future generations of people and wildlife?

SD: "Obviously, green spaces are not just for people, and the Council owns other pieces of land around Frodsham. There was recently a consultation on wildflower planting on verges and this is so important for biodiversity. Because of the nature of agriculture, there are more insects living in verges and hedgerows than there are in the countryside, so these spaces are vitally important. While we protect green spaces for people, we must also protect them for the birds and insects that play a key role in our food supply chain. And this does not need to come at our expense: what is good for wildlife is good for us too.

"The other thing that I think is really important when it comes to green spaces is access. For example, the footpath to Hob Hey Wood gets so muddy during the winter that it is very difficult to get down there. Hob Hey is an ancient woodland, an amazing spot that needs to be appreciated, but if we can't get there and don't experience it, how can we want to protect it? I know that Hob Hey Wood Friends and the Peak and Northern Footpaths Society have been in touch with the Council about the issue, but I would like to play a role in making sure it is addressed."

FNN: Green spaces are vital for personal and community wellbeing, but so are public facilities. With the Council currently considering options for Frodsham Leisure Centre, how do you envision the development of future sport and leisure provision in the town?

SD: "When we look at health and wellbeing, I don't think we should look exclusively at the leisure centre. It is really important that our residents have access to good facilities, but these should not be limited to a gym or sports hall. I help to run belly dance classes in Frodsham and our dancers are just one example of local residents who would not want to use a gym for their exercise. Luckily, here in Frodsham we have a varied network of other options, from volunteer-led walking groups to bowls clubs, groups that aren't explicitly aimed at health and fitness, but which do improve their members' health and wellbeing. So while we do need to provide adequate sports and leisure facilities for the people of Frodsham, we also need to support and champion groups and activities that cater for as many different people as possible."

FNN: Another local centre that has been in the spotlight in recent years is Frodsham Recycling Centre. How do you think we could resolve issues of congestion and inaccessibility at the site?

SD: "Since I moved to Frodsham, people have been talking about moving the tip to somewhere near Robert Gleave Garden Centre. This obviously hasn't happened and there has to be a reason for that, so it would be good to find out why. When you walk through town you can see cars queuing down Church Street to get to the tip, whih suggests that everyone tries to go at the same time, whether that be on the weekend or after a good weather spell when they've been clearing their garden. I know people living in different areas who have to book to visit their local recycling centre, and I wonder whether that could be a short-term solution to the queues.

"However, ultimately the root of the issue lies in the amount of rubbish we put into the waste management system in the first place. Obviously it is better to recycle something than to put it to landfill, but recycling is fairly low down the list of sustainable options. We can also look at reducing and reusing, which leads me to think about the goods shed at Frodsham Station. I think it would be amazing to use that building for an environmentally friendly, retrofitted facility that celebrates the heritage of that area and also encourages people to adopt environmentally sustainable behaviours. I would love to explore whether we could look again at revamping the goods shed to make a multi-functional space that could include repair cafés and classes on how to fix up or reuse old furniture or possessions. Of course it would require huge investment but the Council has committed to carbon neutrality and this would be a good opportunity to work towards that target, reducing waste and emissions in a slightly different way."

FNN: These ideas for the future of the goods shed look forward – hopefully – to a post-Covid world growing away from the pandemic. How else do you think Frodsham contribute to and benefit from plans for a green recovery from the past year?

SD: "As lockdown restrictions are lifted, we really need to think about how we can avoid simply returning to the same unsustainable patterns as before. In a town like Frodsham, transport is a massive issue and a lot of people do feel like they need cars. The Council should be ensuring that, within Frodsham and our neighbouring villages, there are good transport options, including infrastructure such as bike stores, which will make cycling an easier choice for people.

"I was pleased that the Council has been awarded funding for the Rural Mobility Fund and I will be interested to see how those plans develop. It's a really exciting opportunity in principle but the devil is in the detail and I want to make sure that it really does enable people to leave their cars at home and get to see their friends and family in other towns and villages more easily.

"Another really important part of the green recovery is making sure that we are developing in the right way. This doesn't just mean not building on the green belt, we must make sure that homes are being built to the right environmental standards. Also, retrofitting existing buildings is much more environmentally friendly, so wherever possible it is important that that kind of thing is pursued."