Meet the candidate: Colin Kreidewolf

On Thursday, 7 May, Ipswich residents will head to the polls for two local elections on the same day — one for Ipswich Borough Council, the other for Suffolk County Council. Colin Kreidewolf is standing for Labour in the Westgate ward, contesting one of 16 borough council seats up for election across Ipswich.

As an apolitical publication, we sent every candidate standing in the town the same five questions, and we're publishing every response in full, without editing, so that residents can hear directly from the people asking for their vote. No candidate receives more or less prominence than any other. This is what Colin told us.

Tell us a bit about yourself — who are you, what's your connection to your ward/division, and why do you want to become a councillor?

I have served the people of Westgate for 12 years. I was born on London Road, within Westgate, before moving to Chantry, and I am passionate about Ipswich, both the town and my beloved football team. I love representing Westgate; it is a diverse, interesting, and engaged ward full of community-minded people.

I am also Chair of Governors at Handford Hall School, and a Trustee at Raedwald Trust, which provides alternative provision at Westbridge School on Wilberforce Street. I am Chair of several trading companies at IBC, including Ipswich Buses.

Education and the voices of young people are key drivers for me. It is important that children of all abilities receive the same opportunities to succeed and progress.

I hope residents will continue to support me.

What are the three biggest issues facing your ward/division right now, and what would you do about them if elected?

The strategic operation between the Police, local authorities and other stakeholders called Clear, Hold and Build is addressing issues like ASB, fly tipping and organised crime with a greater police presence and enforcement. Supporting this, we are developing community engagement and involvement to build community resilience and foster a safer environment, making the area a better place to live and work. This needs to be developed further.

Traffic is a major issue in many areas, with some roads unsafe because of the way they are organised and the way some drivers behave. More coordinated action and planning are required, particularly near schools. Traffic calming measures need to be introduced.

The management of roadworks and potholes repair must be better coordinated, especially as the Government has provided additional funding to the County for more repairs. Further, utility companies should be held to account when they do up the roads by forcing them to schedule works better and replace roads like-for-like, with penalties enforced if that is not the case.

Suffolk is in the middle of significant change — from the local government reorganisation creating new unitary authorities to ongoing pressures on housing, transport and public services. What's your view on how these changes should be handled, and what role do you see a local councillor playing?

It is positive that the Government will provide additional funding to the new Mayor for Norfolk and Suffolk, who can strategically plan for improved infrastructure projects. This should assist the campaign for a Northern Bypass, something that Ipswich really needs, and help a more coordinated plan for the wider area. Working with all parties will be key.

A new Unitary for Ipswich and South Suffolk which is in control of all services will improve coordination and co-operation.

For a local Councillor like me, it is important that I provide a voice for residents and involve them in the decision-making process. Councillors are there to remind the strategic decision makers of the impact of actions on residents. I am particularly interested in ensuring that young people are listened to.

What do you consider your most significant personal, professional or community achievement — and what does it tell voters about how you'd approach the role?

I am Chair of several of the IBC trading companies that have delivered £23m of income to the Council over the last nine years, to help support services that IBC provides, and that have built 380 new Council homes for Ipswich people.

As a ward councillor, I have focused on issues that concern or can benefit local people, including the following:

I campaigned for over a year to see repairs and improvements to the roundabout at St Matthews Street and Civic Drive. Originally, the railings had been taken down to allow a wide load to pass, and the exit nearest Tesco had been shut temporarily. This lasted over a year before I was successful in getting the exit reopened and the damaged railings replaced.

Subsequently, I have campaigned for further improvements, including improved lighting, CCTV, and signage in the underpass. I am delighted that my perseverance has resulted in the complete replacement of all the railings at St Matthews, Civic Drive and Handford Road roundabouts, which are now being worked.

One of my first community ventures upon becoming a Councillor was to support the Smokehouse with a £5,000 grant from IBC, which enabled them to get £50,000 match funding that allowed them to open the venue.

Brighten the Corners that the Smokehouse has evolved into provides some wonderful services to young people in Westgate, and elsewhere in the Town, in terms of training courses and other activities. They now also run the Church venue in the centre of the Town, which the Council redeveloped. and have received funding for the redevelopment of The Baths, which will start later this year.

If elected, how will you make yourself accessible to residents in your ward/division? How can people contact you now, and how do you plan to keep in touch if you win?

In the same way that I have for the last twelve years! I ensure that my contact details are available to as many people as possible, by getting out and knocking on doors all year round, by attending social and other gatherings and by being seen around the ward. I have met hundreds of residents over the years, and my phone number is widely available.

Want to hear from the other candidates standing in Westgate — and across the rest of Ipswich? We're publishing every response we receive in full.

Polling stations open at 07:00 and close at 22:00 on Thursday, 7 May, with results expected on Friday, 8 May. To vote in person, you will need a valid form of photo ID — if you don't have one, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate at gov.uk before 17:00 on Tuesday, 28 April. The last day to register to vote is Monday, 20 April. For a full breakdown of every candidate standing across Ipswich and all the key deadlines, read our complete guide to the May elections.

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