Meet the candidate: Sachin Karale

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. Sachin Karale is standing for the , Party in the Bridge division, contesting 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 Sachin 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?

My name is Sachin Karale. I moved to Ipswich 22 years ago to work as a Research Scientist in Artificial Intelligence at British Telecom. I am a local business owner in Ipswich town centre. I am standing to represent one of the county divisions in Suffolk—Bridge, which covers an extensive portion of the Ipswich town centre. As a local business owner, I can represent the voice of local businesses and bring forward ideas to help create a thriving town centre. At the same time, as I live in the town centre, I understand the needs of local people and can address them in a practical way.

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

Most needed for our town, I want to propose and deliver achievable, affordable, easy to implement, and logical solutions—ideas that would benefit the local residents. These can help reduce pollution, improve journey times, lower road accidents, and ease congestion. This can be done through better traffic management, improved coordination of roadworks, clearer road signage, and smarter rules around goods deliveries and food collections. I am also backing the northern bypass and am open to considering suggestions.

Secondly, with a background as a research scientist, I aim to support improvements in education that help the younger generation develop modern skills and open up new employment opportunities.

Thirdly, I would like to contribute to public health and safeguarding by supporting vulnerable adults and children, working closely with the police and the NHS to ensure effective coordination and care.

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?

Often, residents are confused about which borough council ward or county division they live in, especially where borough and county boundaries do not align. In addition, it is not always clear to residents whether specific issues fall under the borough council or the county council.

This will become clearer through the formation of a unitary council, although achieving this would be an intensive task to deliver within a short timeframe. I will consider public consultation and engagement as a very important factor. Listening to residents is always the main priority, so their voices can be heard.

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 actively involved with number of communities, charities and networking group across the town and county, which keeps me closely connected to both businesses and residents.

I have already contributed to the Old County Hall vision, bringing new businesses into the town and helping to put empty properties back into use. This can be expanded further by engaging more businesses and residents and providing the right platform for growth. If elected, my approach to attracting investment into Ipswich and Suffolk can help take this even further.

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?

I am actively posting on my social media, where constituents can follow my work and get in touch via those channels or by email at sachinkaraleipswich@yahoo.com. I will do my best to respond in a timely manner. I occasionally engage and speak at various events to a wider audience.

• Facebook: Dr Sachin Karale Ipswich
• LinkedIn: Dr Sachin Karale
• Twitter / X: ipswichKarale
• Instagram: sachinkaraleipswich

Want to hear from the other candidates standing in Bridge — 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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