Public transport, rising living costs, empty shops - some of the issues the new Tiverton and Honiton MP should focus on

Ahead of the Tiverton and Honiton by-election on June 23, we want to speak to local residents about what they think are the important issues in the area.

Eight candidates are standing - Richard Foord for the Liberal Democrats, Helen Hurford for the Conservatives, Liz Pole for Labour, Gill Westcott for the Green Party, Ben Walker for the UK Independence Party, Jordan Donoghue-Morgan for the Heritage Party, Andy Foan for Reform UK and Frankie Rufolo for The For Britain Movement.

James Coles, 45, lives in Axminster and is a chartered town planner apprentice. He would like the next MP to focus on the coast of living, public transport and attracting businesses to the town.

"The Tories have undoubtedly taken our constituency for granted - and who can blame them? You have to go back to the 1860s to find an MP from another party representing Axminster! 

"In all honesty, if the local electorate doesn't vote for change now, they never will. We have a Prime Minister who, regardless of your political views, is clearly not fit for office. And we all know why there's a by-election taking place here.

"Axminster residents, like people across the country, clearly need their MP to do all they can to help with the rising cost of living. 

"I'm grateful not to be a car owner at the moment, as the way the price of fuel is creeping up, literally everyday, is shocking. And, regardless of the additional grant the Government has recently announced, there will still be many people frightened to switch the heating back on this winter with prices set to rise yet again.

"As rural market towns go, I think Axminster's doing okay. The regeneration of Trinity House is a real success story and a credit to those behind it. And the Guildhall always seems to have something on these days too, which is also great for the town.

"But Axminster does have its fair share of empty shop units. The glory days of truly bustling town centres are sadly behind us, so we need to get these empty shops back into use, even if that means repurposing.

"Devon as a whole is very fortunate when it comes to GP access and, although the new fad for telephone appointments may not be to everyone's liking, the situation is pretty favourable when compared to finding a dentist! 

"Unless you're already a long-term patient, giving up and going private seems to be the only option for the thousands who are looking for a NHS dentist. That's not right and needs to be addressed. As does, of course, the unacceptable waiting times for ambulances and operations.

"For a town of its size, Axminster is very well connected with a train station and direct bus services to places as far afield as Taunton, Exeter, Dorchester, Weymouth and Seaton & Beer. But the once mooted half-hourly train service has never materialised and the bus services used to be far, far better. 

"Good luck spotting a bus in Axminster on a Sunday outside of summer months. And if you want to use a bus to get to work out of town when you have an early start or, say, for an evening out, you can forget it. 

"Public transport is the most sustainable way to get people from A to B, but if it's not available the Government will never stop people relying on their own vehicles. 

"And it's also not a topic I've seen any of the candidates properly address in the small forest's worth of leaflets I've had shoved through my letterbox over the last few weeks!"

If you would like to share what you feel are the most important issues that should be a focus for the next MP, get in touch and email [email protected]