Holly Greenberry-Pullen Liberal Democrat Candidate for Tavistock Division – Devon County Council Dear Tavistock and Grenofen residents, We all know things must change.

Full statement

We need better services, stronger leadership, and genuine councillors who listen and work alongside the community. I’m standing to deliver exactly that – drawing on deep experience in campaigning, activism, business, and local government, and working alongside a notable team of highly effective Liberal Democrat councillors across Devon as well as our local MPs.

We are in a desperate situation In Tavistock and across Devon, this election is a straight choice: the failing Conservatives or the Liberal Democrats bringing professionalism, experience, and genuine action. Our collective expertise, professional back local knowledge, and years of being party of communities will offer a monumental opportunity across our county. This starts with listening and understanding plus a lot of ongoing hard work unifying with colleagues. After all we are the same as you, we live locally, we care, and of course offer a skill set to to create change.

After 16 years of Conservative mismanagement which has been extensively reported in the press and seen in the audits, Devon Conservative led County Council is now on the verge of bankruptcy (check the press & reports). Yes bankruptcy! Services are crumbling while council leaders make excuse after excuse and manipulate the message of their own failings to try and win votes…they are fearful and deservedly so; but people agent blinkered! You see the issues… we all do. I’ve spoken to hundreds of people on the doorstep, in Bedford Square and at events. People trust me, us and that’s a privilege - One I value.
We urgently need expert but fresh solutions — and we can career changes but we wish to work with our residents, for them and not against your needs. This applies to all residents whatever your political beliefs or differences. It is my / our job if elected to engage and find solutions to start healing our county.

As your councillor, I will work at highest level of personal integrity, bring wealth of professional skills and experience, new fresh energy, and promised integrity to represent Tavistock and the broader county, and in doing so ensure your voice adds into shaping the decisions that matter. We have an opportunity for real change — it is needed and we must take it. But I’ll need your vote.

The Reality Under Conservative County Leadership:

• Children’s Services in Devon are rated “Inadequate”, after repeated serious failings. SEND services are decimated causing children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities to be left out of education, or fighting for months and years for support whilst CAHMS often fails to deliver despite passionate front line workers, Schools are reportedly punishing disabled children and Devon led Tory Council are not engaging or expert enough to stop this and create positive change. We will fight to deliver such change.
• Devon is the second-worst funded adult social care service in England, with record delays and unmet needs.
• A massive multi million black hole is forcing devastating emergency cuts to our key services and when you add poor management and prioritising many areas where the private sector costs more than in house services we know the failures bad… and it is. The Conservative governance must come to an end.
• Reported pothole road repairs cost triple under Tories as they spend your taxes on outsourcing highways work on a private contracts and then din contractors. A pothole in Devon costs a reported £189 per pot hole to ‘fix’ !! Boosting the the contractors profits out of your taxes ! and then they repair the same damage again !!!
• Sewage dumping soared to over 7,000 hours in Devon rivers last year. We must campaign hard as SWW charge us the highest costs in the country! With some of the worst sewage records and failing infrastructure,
• Access to GP and NHS dental care is collapsing, with no real plan to fix it. People extracting miles and at times hours to get a dentist!
•The Tories have failed to deliver affordable housing or adequate social housing for local people with some social housing homes in Tavistock being left in an awful state needing urgent improvements.

Enough is enough. Tavistock and Devon deserve a lot better!

The Liberal Democrat Difference

Across the country, voters are turning to the Liberal Democrats for real insight and leadership: genuine community focus, hard work, and local action. We are taking seats at almost all by- elections now and i hope to take a seat in Tavistock.
In the South West alone, we have seen record-breaking growth, winning hundreds of new council seats and returning more MPs at the last general election than at any time in over approaching two decades. He tables are turning and we are make massive gains.

In 2024’s local elections, the Liberal Democrats gained over 100 new councillors in the South West alone — while the Conservatives suffered historic defeats. Residents across Devon and the South West are demanding better – and voting Liberal Democrat to get it. We will work for you.

A Bit About Me

Some of you know me already as a Borough Councillor for Tavistock on West Devon Borough Council.
I am also a local businesswoman, a mum of two, and a nationally awarded campaigner. My work has taken me to Westminster, Whitehall, Holyrood, and the United Nations. I have a strong background in special educational needs (SEND) advocacy, have served as a local school governor, and worked on national government projects, Home Office initiatives, NHS steering groups, and charitable campaigns. I’ve delivered media campaigns and worked with academics.

So I’m not telling you this to sound impressive or arrogant — far from it.
I’m telling you because real leadership needs real skills and experience. That’s what I will bring to the table if elected. I am proudly local, and I understand the everyday struggles we all face. I’m standing because I care deeply about Tavistock and our surrounding villages — and because it’s time for strong, compassionate, serious representation.

Over recent months, I’ve listened to hundreds of residents. Over the years I have supported many local events, charities and Devon wide campaigns. I’ve united the whole council on a motion - and worked with some incredible local colleagues on important local issues.
You’ve told me about crumbling roads, inaccessible health services, unaffordable housing, poor housing, anger at education and furry of social care services. You also tell me how beautiful Tavistock and our surrounding villages and countryside is. You are upset about the growth without infrastructure! I really really appreciate and understand your words. I’ve heard so many times how you love West Devon and feel dismayed under current county leadership and a failure in local representation. You say that the Council just doesn’t listen anymore and our services are far from great.

This must change.

We need councillors who are open and honest, who explain what can and cannot be done, who fight at every opportunity for the very best possible outcomes and who will strive to open doors and opportunities that don’t exist! That’s me. That’s my colleagues. That’s your choice for the future representation here and across Devon.

If elected, I will hold regular surgeries throughout the year, where you can speak to me directly and know key concerns are taken forward and individual support and signposting can be offered — not lost in a committee room or inaccessible .

My Priorities for Tavistock Division:

• Better Roads and Highways: Bring highway services back in-house. Smarter, cost-effective, local repairs must be our priority after 16 years of disastrous Tory outsourcing. Improve and support Highways to work closely with Parish and Town Councils

• Better Healthcare Access: Campaigning for more GP and dental services and a new diagnostics unit at Tavistock Hospital - to support and meet elective NHS leaders.

• Responsible Local Development: Demand developers provide proper infrastructure alongside new housing under Section 106! This is vital.

• Truly Affordable Housing: Fight for homes that local families can afford, and greater investment in social housing and social housing repairs by telling house associations to stop ignoring rural homes in favour of city properties.

• Safer Communities: Support the police and multi agency engagement across numerous areas including tackling drug problems and really dangerous high speed road racing.

• URGENT Action on SEND: Urgent reform of crisis-hit Special Educational Needs services. INCLUDING IMPROVING EDUCATION AND TRAINNING TO STAFF AND SCHOOL TRUSTEES TO UNDERSTAND SEND AND SEND FAMILIES. TO MOVE AWAY FROM DAMAGING MODELS OF SEND MANAGEMENT.

• More School Places: Additional places and better opportunities for students and staff.

• Improving Children’s and Adult Services: Repairing the devastation caused by Tory neglect. Highlighting the importance of Intersex connection between agencies.

• Cleaner Rivers and Seas: Hold South West Water accountable for sewage pollution in Devon’s rivers and seas.

We can’t promise new money from central government – no council honestly can.

But what we can and will promise is smarter leadership, significantly better management, notable better value for your taxes, higher quality representation, transparency, energy, and a genuine wealth of exceptional professionalism.

The Liberal Democrats are ready. I am ready.

Vote for experience, heart, and hard work. I won’t let you down. We can’t continue as we’ve seen over the last 16 years. Many people are making it clear they are voting Liberal Democrat. I hope you will too.

Vote Holly Greenberry-Pullen — your Liberal Democrat candidate for Tavistock Division.

Warmest regards
Holly

PS:
This is a rare opportunity and a genuine chance to elect an open, responsible councillor and council that will work with you. So of course please use your vote to aid me to work alongside my colleagues for you.

Published and promoted by Graham Reed on behalf of Holly Greenberry-Pullen (Liberal Democrats) all at 13, Chingswell Street, Bideford. EX39 2NF