Liberal Democrat candidate Chris Maines wants to get more people involved in the decision-making process LC2963-06
In the third instalment of News Shopper's
interviews with Lewisham's mayoral candidates, CHRIS JOHNSON speaks to Liberal Democrat contender Chris Maines about his vision for the borough.
LIB Dem candidate Chris Maines is ready for a new challenge.
This is why he is set to hang up his boots as an
Orpington councillor after 20 years and vie to unseat current Mayor Steve Bullock in the upcoming May elections.
He has recently moved to Blackheath and says if he makes it to office as Lewisham's directly elected mayor, he will improve people's quality of life.
Providing a cinema for the borough is on his hit list of things to do, and he is also keen to expand leisure facilities.
The single 48-year-old says he wants Lewisham to leave a "lasting legacy" in the 2012 Olympics, and wants to see the borough's young invested into.
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He said: "I would love to see Lewisham's young
people compete in the Olympics.
"For this to be a reality, the council needs to invest in more sports facilities to give Lewisham's youngsters a chance."
Even though Lewisham is not an Olympic borough, the former Bromley Council leader says the borough stands to gain greatly from the event.
He said: "The Olympics provide a fantastic opportunity to invest in infrastructure and increase the provision of hotels and generally embrace the spirit of the Games.
"Lewisham has the chance to attract people to visit, being so close to where all the action will be."
The management consultant also hopes to apply for more money through the National Lottery's good causes fund, a cash pot he says is currently not being utilised enough.
And like his Tory rival James Cleverly, he has pledged to hold a referendum on the borough's
directly-elected mayor system.
He said: "To make the local government system more open and transparent, the power needs to be shared.
"There are so many disengaged councillors who have no say in anything anymore.
"I would like to open the system out and get more people involved in the decision-making process."
The performing arts enthusiast says he hopes to engage the public.
He said: "The current council lacks vision and drive. Communicating with the people is so important.
"We need to get information out to people much more so they can have a real input."
He added: "This can be done by increasing information points in the borough, in libraries for instance.
"The internet is a fantastic forum for communication too."
Candidate background
BORN in Bromley on January 11, 1958.
Will step down as councillor for Orpington in May when he will stand as candidate for the Lewisham mayoral post.
Was educated at Ramsden Boys' School in
Orpington.
Studied business at Plymouth Polytechnic.
Has been an Orpington councillor since 1986.
Currently leader of Liberal Democrat group on Bromley Council.
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