Proud and Accessible Communities - Cat Smith

Community groups are the beating heart of our society, bringing the best of us together. But to create spaces fit for making them thrive, we need to take back control from London and have more local decision-making on public transport, housing, energy, skills, culture and childcare.

I’ve been tough on dodgy developers who try to build housing without any care for the impact on the local area, and challenged new developments in flood risk zones.

I continue to challenge train companies on their poor service and rising fares, and successfully fought to save the Lancaster rail station ticket office.

I have successfully lobbied our bus companies to restore the Sunday bus service to Knott End, extend rural services to Garstang, increase services along St George’s Quay in Lancaster, and introduce fairer bus fares for Forton.

I’ve championed our local skate parks, youth services, green spaces and campaigned to save community assets like pharmacies, whilst challenging local government when their services are poor or work against residents, such as the poor state of weeding or City Council parking charge increases.