Meet the candidate: Juliet Garside

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. Juliet Garside is standing for the Green Party in Gainsborough, contesting one of 16 borough council seats and one of 12 county 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 Juliet 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 was born in Ipswich, grew up in the Suffolk countryside, then moved to the town about 30 years ago when I studied at Suffolk College. Since then I've worked in a range of jobs which include pubs, restaurants, insurance, BT, a school, and libraries — and more recently I've been helping with admin on my family's farm.

I've always had a soft spot for Gainsborough. I worked at Gainsborough Library years ago, and later attended the baby and toddler sessions there when my daughter was little. I care about keeping the community strong, looking after our green spaces, and making sure we don't lose the things that bring people together.

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

Three things come up locally: looking after our environment, supporting young people, and improving everyday services.

People care a lot about green spaces like Landseer Park, but they need better upkeep. Litter, broken glass and dog mess make them less welcoming, and I'd like to see more support for community clean-ups and better maintenance so they're safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Young people also need more to do. Without safe spaces or activities, it can lead to problems in the community — so prevention is important.

And finally, roadworks and poor coordination across Ipswich are frustrating. Better planning would reduce disruption and waste.

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?

There's a lot changing in Suffolk, and it's really important that local communities don't lose their voice in the process.

Change needs to work for people on the ground — not just in plans on paper. Councillors should be there to make sure residents are heard, and that local services, green spaces, and community assets are protected and improved, not cut back or ignored.

From a Green point of view, this is also a chance to do things better — build stronger communities, improve the environment, and make sure decisions are made with long-term sustainability in mind, not short-term fixes.

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?

Most of my experience comes from working in jobs where you deal with the public every day — libraries, schools, and customer service. You quickly learn how important it is to listen, understand people properly, and try to help in a practical way.

That's also given me a strong sense of what makes a community work well — safe streets, clean and cared-for green spaces, and services people can rely on.

Working on the family farm has added another layer, especially around caring for the land and thinking long-term about the environment. I'd bring that same mix of practical and environmental thinking to the role.

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?

If I'm elected, I want to be easy to reach and properly involved in the community. That means email and social media, but also being out in the ward and talking to people face to face.

I'd hold regular drop-in sessions so residents can raise issues directly, and I'd attend local events wherever possible.

I'd also want to encourage more community involvement in looking after our shared spaces — like parks and green areas — because when people are involved, places are better cared for and stronger. And I'll keep people updated so communication goes both ways, not just top down.

Want to hear from the other candidates standing in Gainsborough — 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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