A FATHER and son standing in neighbouring wards as non-aligned independent candidates have revealed their pledges ahead of tomorrow's election.

Gareth Evans, independent candidate for the Belfairs ward, has vowed to "preserve and enhance the unique charm and vitality" of Southend and ensure residents' voices are heard "regardless of their backgrounds, beliefs or circumstances".

He said: "From ensuring access to quality education and healthcare to promoting infrastructure improvements, I am determined to work collaboratively with fellow councillors, community organizations, and residents to tackle the challenges we face and seize the opportunities before us."

Mr Evans' pledges include living in a safer community with more police on the streets, protecting green spaces and ensuring these spaces are not developed and built on, ensuring adequate money is allocated to social care, improving the quality of Belfairs roads and footways and improving health and wellbeing for residents.

His father, Keith Evans, is also standing as a non-aligned candidate for the neighbouring Blenheim Park ward.

His key priorities are to ensure the views and the interests of Blenheim Park residents are represented within the council and to use his previous experience as a school business manager to scrutinise and ensure public finances are used wisely and honestly.

Mr Evans said: "I’m committed to fight for living in a safer community with parking and speeding issues resolved, provision of waste collection, holding to others to account for broken election promises, provision of local healthcare including social care."

He has also vowed to fight for a better bus service, monitor budgets to prevent overspend, ensure essential maintenance of the footway’s, roads, and grass verges is regularly undertaken and that parking charges are reasonable.

Like his son, he has pledged to be committed to improving health and wellbeing for all residents and protecting green spaces and the environment.

Mr Evans added: "If I’m re-elected, I will continue to be open, honest, hardworking and fully committed to working for the benefit of every resident in Blenheim Park Ward and make sure Blenheim Park Ward is not forgotten."