The Sound of Silence: Why Our Community Deserves Better

Before I ever decided to stand for election, I noticed something troubling.

When you try to raise a concern with the council, ask a question, or get involved in local services, far too often... you are met with silence.

Not always. But often enough that you start to wonder:

Is anybody actually listening?

Over the past few weeks — while campaigning across Kingswood Ward — I’ve reached out to a wide range of local organisations: councils, community centres, police services, civic groups.

Most of the time, I received no reply at all.

Hours and hours spent trying to work with them — calling, emailing, offering to meet — and being ignored.

I even launched a ward survey, featured on the front page of my website, inviting every resident to have their say.
Despite wide promotion, only a small number responded.

I believe people do care — but too many have been shown, time and again, that their voice makes no difference.

Silence has become the norm.

The Northants Telegraph captured this feeling perfectly just days ago, speaking to Corby voters ahead of the election.
One resident said: "People think nothing’s going to change and why bother?"
Another said: "I don’t even want to vote, that’s how bad it’s got."

This matches exactly what I’ve seen on the doorsteps.

But here’s the difference:
In my day job — and throughout my career — silence is never accepted.

When an answer is needed, you don’t give up.
You don’t walk away.
You don’t allow institutions to hide behind their own walls.

You keep going back. You keep pushing.
Because when public services forget who they serve, it’s our communities that pay the price.

And I believe Kingswood deserves better.

I’m standing as an independent because I’m not tied to any party or machine. I answer only to you and our community.

Not better slogans.
Not better photo opportunities.

Better representation.

If elected, this will only be the start.

We cannot accept silence as the norm.
We cannot allow the organisations that serve us to become detached, distant, and unaccountable.

Public service must be exactly that: service.

And it begins by answering the call when residents reach out.

One thing I learned in the army is that when people call for help, you don’t delay, you don’t hide and you don’t make excuses — you act. In public service, it should be the same

In the coming years, I don’t just want to "hold a seat" —
I want to open doors, answer emails, challenge silence, and give our community a stronger, more visible voice at the table.

Not because it’s easy.
But because it’s necessary.

We deserve better.

And with your support this Thursday, we can start building it — together.

— Gary Campbell
Independent Candidate for Kingswood Ward