How Great Yarmouth's election battleground is shaping up

Out of all the electoral battlegrounds in the upcoming Norfolk County Council elections, the results in Great Yarmouth's nine divisions could prove particularly interesting.

The Conservatives and Labour have long dominated there but at the last general election, people voted for Rupert Lowe as MP, from Reform UK.

The businessman has since been ousted from the party after he fell out with its leadership and launched Great Yarmouth First, a local offshoot of his new national Restore Britain party.

The group believes it has strong support locally. But this could split the right-leaning vote, potentially benefiting rival parties.

All parties will be attempting to appeal to the key issues voters care about, which candidates have told the BBC include new housing developments putting strain on public services, traffic on the roads, coastal erosion and the cost of living.

People living in the town also say they worry about safety, anti-social behaviour and the decline of the High Street.

Carl Smith, leader of the Great Yarmouth Conservatives, thinks his party's track record should appeal to voters.

He pointed to the £130m Herring Bridge, the new library at The Place, new schools and the council's work to boost skills for the offshore industry through a new training campus.

Smith said: "We are standing on our record of what we have delivered here in Great Yarmouth.

"We have some major challenges, we know we do, but I believe that now is the time to vote in experienced councillors."

Smith added that experienced councillors would be best placed to steer Norfolk through a major shake-up of local government.

Three unitary authorities will replace the existing district and county councils by 2028.

Trevor Wainwright, Great Yarmouth Labour's group leader, made a similar point and warned against voters being drawn in by lofty promises from his rivals, with only a short time before the council will cease to exist.

He said: "Residents need councillors to represent them with a track record of delivery and service to the communities, especially in Great Yarmouth, and not take a punt on unknowns that are promising the earth, but probably won't be able to deliver very much at all."

He said his group would fight the county council's plans to sell off care homes, offer support for pubs, push for improving Special Educational Needs (SEND) provision and look at better roadworks planning if elected.

While Labour warned against voting for "unknowns", polls suggest people want change.

Adrian Myers, who is already involved in local government through his role as director of the Norfolk Association of Local Councils, is standing for Reform UK.

His party has not produced a manifesto but said it would be looking for ways to cut debt, reduce council tax and identify ways to improve job opportunities in the Great Yarmouth area, where work is often seasonal.

The 71-year-old said they do not see Great Yarmouth First as a threat but he warned votes for Lowe's party had the potential to let the "Conservatives in through the back door".

"They are a threat to the wider Norfolk if they dilute the vote," he added.

"They are only standing nine councillors, who would have absolutely no effect at county council level where there are 84 seats."

But Jon Wedon, who is standing for Great Yarmouth First, disagreed and said his party would be the loudest voice at County Hall if elected.

Currently working as the constituency office manager for Lowe, he added it would seek to challenge the effects of what he called "mass house building", such as traffic problems.

He said: "If we are lucky enough to get all nine councillors elected, we will be a loud, proud and unapologetic voice for Great Yarmouth.

"We'll be standing up, championing and calling for fast action on all the local issues that matter to people, and we will push for transparency and accountability."

Another party hoping to capitalise on the desire for change is the Green Party, which is surging in popularity nationally.

It has not had much electoral success in the Great Yarmouth area before but its candidates could benefit from a split vote on the right and Labour's declining popularity.

Jack Allen, one of the Green candidates, said: "The political landscape is changing and in Great Yarmouth it is particularly divisive.

"There's a real feeling that people have been forgotten by the major parties.

"It now comes down to the parties making the noise in the area."

Allen added that the Green Party candidates were "real humans" and said they would push for improving access to health services, SEND provision and better public transport links.

Tony Harris, a retired pharmacist, is standing for the Liberal Democrats.

He says he loves the town and "hates people who run it down", pointing to online trolls on social media.

While he hopes the Liberal Democrats, currently the largest opposition group, can secure more councillors, he has also called for people to get out and vote regardless of who they support.

"The turnout in some of these elections is very low but if you don't vote, you can't really complain afterwards."

A full list of the candidates in the Norfolk County Council election can be found here.

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