I am Carlos Toranzos. Cambridge has been my home for just over 40 years. I have lived in different wards, raised a family and sent my children to school and university here. Over the years I have experienced the joys and difficulties of city life. I have made friends, and have recognised that the people of Cambridge are generous, good-humoured, protective of their environment and caring of others.

This is how I introduced myself in the 2023 May elections. I was relatively new to these fields, I had been a trade union member and a representative of my university in areas of negotiations, etc., but not dealing with people the way I had to when canvassing in Trumpington. We worked hard and got a very good result in the elections – we were short of just 179 votes to win.

This experience made me realise that only direct contact with people can make you understand what is it that our society needs, and what people’s needs and aspirations are. This experience also made me realise that the only way things can be achieved is with commitment and hard work. Because of this, I have decided to stand again as Trumpington’s candidate for the May elections in 2024.

This decision was more the result of my contact with people in Trumpington. They made me realise that as a candidate you have to show commitment and desire to do your best to help everybody to be happy and engaged in our ward. Our youngsters showed me that they need a social club that encourages them to develop extracurricular activities. Our cyclists feel safe because the cycle paths are well looked after. Our pensioners made me realise that street lighting is essential for them to feel free to move around in winter. Our pedestrians showed me that the footpaths have to be well looked after, and that weeds like nettles must be pruned regularly to stop stinging them and their children even if they are in pushchairs or prams. With all these needs, I cannot be content with Trumpington councillors that do not take serious responsibility in these areas.

It is nearly two years since I started volunteering at the Food Hub, an experience that showed me that neighbours and people, in general, are so generous with their time and make people in need feel wanted and loved. It is not the food that we give – it is the way it is done. Every person is valued and encouraged to continue living, things will change and that change is better if helped by your community.

Cycling to Trumpington from the city, be it Trumpington Road or the Busway, has to be made safe – in the conditions of the road and the conditions of the signalling, particularly now that electric scooters are sharing the same routes.

Maintenance of cycle paths has to be paramount, to protect our environment and our surroundings. Green areas must be properly looked after. Our Library has to extend opening times and make sure children are given the chance to listen to storytelling as well as coordinate with local history societies and other community groups to know that our place has a place in our hearts and brains.

I am standing as your candidate to work towards what I see as realistic ways to make our ward an example not only for the county but further afield.

As a lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University for over 30 years, as a Researcher at Cambridge University, as a NATFHE (now UCU) Union Representative, and also through my work with charities such as Amnesty International, Help the Aged groups, Trumpington Food Hub, the Chile Solidarity Campaign and St Matthews Primary Schools’ reading programs, I have come across individuals from the widest range of backgrounds. It has been their diverse stories that have given me a broad view of Cambridge itself and its universal appeal. I have made numerous friends too and together I have seen that the only way to make Cambridge truly great is through our extended community.

Cambridge has expanded dramatically. Throughout this growth the Labour Party has been championing sustainable development; we demand sustainable housing and a sustainable environment. Trumpington is a clear example of this.

Our community is diverse. We must see this as a major asset. Cambridge has always shown a big heart to incomers; I am a clear example of it. In Trumpington, our streets, homes, medical facilities, and labour force all flourish with the presence of people from around the world. It is this diversity that has made Cambridge a vibrant and cosmopolitan place – the envy of so many other cities.

Together with the Labour Party manifesto, we also open our hearts to people who are going through difficult times. Our Food Help policy has been very successful and currently it caters for over eighty families: another example of Trumpington’s generous soul.