‘If you’re a mayor, put your hands in the air!’
While national politics and politicians make the headlines, much of the day-to-day work of providing the services we need and making decisions about the local issues that affect us takes place at grassroots level.
No-one’s more aware of that than Cllr Alex Wagner.
Alex is the Liberal Democrat deputy leader of Shropshire Council. He’s also a Shrewsbury town councillor, and is currently the town’s mayor, with a decade-long track record in local politics.
And - let’s get this out of the way - he’s only twenty-four years old.
‘Shrewsbury’s unique, it’s exceptional, I don’t know any other place I’d rather live’
Alex Wagner and I had a sit-down in the Bird’s Nest Café in Shrewsbury’s multi-award-winning Market Hall to talk over some things I wanted to ask him, and questions suggested by Hello You listeners too.
Topics covered include:
the pedestrianisation of Shrewsbury
the 8.99% increase in council tax
buses, including the experimental Night Bus
potholes (of course!)
housing and new developments; what’s needed and where they should go
the North West Relief Road
live music, grassroots venues, festivals and Loopfest
the parlous state of Shropshire Council’s finances, recently saved from going bust by a £190million government loan
beer and pubs
flags, FFS
schools
Shrewsbury Pride
the right to herd sheep, and other mayoral privileges
what makes a vibrant town centre
Greek Orthodox Church services
young people getting involved in politics
how people get in and out of Shrewsbury
scones
‘I’ve chosen to make this the place I want to spend my life, because it’s a brilliant town’
Join in the conversation about what Alex Wagner had to say, in the comments:
Who else do you want to hear from on Hello You the Shropshire podcast? Maybe there are other decision-makers I could talk with, maybe you know someone with interesting thoughts or a fascinating story to tell. Maybe it’s you! Send me a message:
Y’dig?
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Please take care of yourself.
Take care of the people around you.
And I hope the people around you are taking care of you, too.
