Reform out and about in Bromley

It was great to be out on Bromley High Street on Saturday morning, talking directly with local residents and hearing what matters to them.

Politics shouldn’t begin and end at election time. We don’t need an election on the horizon to listen to Bromley residents.

Our Shifting Stand gave people the chance to stop, talk and ask questions — and there was certainly plenty to discuss.

• Crime and public safety were high on the agenda following recent incidents in Bromley town centre.

  
  

• Residents also raised concerns about the financial position of Bromley Council and what that could ultimately mean for local taxpayers and services.

  
  

• There was interest in the future of important local buildings, including prominent sites in Beckenham.

  
  

• But one subject came up time and again — protecting Bromley’s Green Belt.

  
  

Residents are understandably concerned about proposals affecting sites including Hayes Farm in Bromley and Derry Downs in Orpington.

These are important local spaces, and once Green Belt land is built on, it cannot simply be replaced.

One of the most encouraging parts of the morning was speaking with people who initially approached us unsure — or even opposed to Reform — but stayed to have a genuine conversation and left with a better understanding of what we are doing locally.

Sometimes people simply want the opportunity to hear directly from us rather than through somebody else’s interpretation.

Reform UK Bromley will continue to be visible, accessible and active in our community — whether there is an election around the corner or not.

We’ll be back out again soon.