As we fast-approach the local elections on Thursday 6 May, Macclesfield Nub News have requested articles interviewing candidates for the Macclesfield Central Ward councillor on our Town Council, hearing more about their priorities and what they would hope to do if elected.

Today, we spoke with the Conservative candidate Abhishika Srivastav (34).

Abhishika, who is originally from the north of India, moved to Macclesfield six years ago. Her children were born in our town.

The mum-of-two and her husband run a food shop in Macclesfield, which opened during the pandemic last August.

She has been a keen viewer of Macclesfield Town Council meetings, since joining the Conservative Party in early 2019.

The only female candidate in the by-election would be the only Conservative on Macclesfield Town Council, if elected.

Macclesfield Nub News: Why did you decide to stand and what do you think you can bring to the role?

Abhishika Srivastav: "I think it is related to my background. My background is I completed my postgraduate in Sociology, and then after I completed one in law. After that I prepared for my judicial service examinations. So because of all this, I know about the rules and regulations - and how public laws and decisions are made and implemented.

"In this pandemic time we are suffering a lot. Everybody is suffering a lot. People have lost their jobs. And I know this as I have been through it.

"It has been one year since we had to close our local restaurant. We had to close because of the pandemic and we had only just started running it as a new business. After we shut down, the [central] government supported us, and I appreciated this so we survived, but with no customers how could we ever think of reopening this? We needed the money for the extra wages and all that. So we had to permanently shut our restaurant and it was very heartbreaking for me and my husband Raiman.

"In August, we started a small food shop near our home in Macclesfield. But it's very hard to run new business in this pandemic time, we struggle in this time. How can the council think about raising tax? It is going to be one-and-a-half years into the pandemic soon - how can they not consider the pandemic as a factor in rising Council Tax. How is that possible?

"The town council's part of council tax bills has risen by nearly 25%. And [as a small business owner] we don't just have to pay the council tax on our home [in a pandemic] we had to pay the wages we had to pay the parking charges, Road Tax, insurance, and all other things not just for the council tax. And with the tax rising and no extra council support then where do we go?

Macclesfield Nub News: Fly tipping is a big issue for you. Please could you tell me why you think the problem is bad, and how you would solve it?

Abhishika Srivastav: "Fly tipping is everywhere, not just in Macclesfield. But the fly tipping is not good for our environment. For the people who live near to the fly tipping, it is very dangerous.

"When the Town Council increased the tax, they said we have appointed more Town Rangers, but what are they doing? I'm sure most of the sites they get to, they do a good job and get to clean it. But I would love to take the Councillors around the town centre and show them which places [I think] are messy. I see so many examples of fly tipping and weeds.

"It looks awful. As you see in the pictures I posted on Facebook, I am really shocked to see this.

"What are the Town Rangers doing if they can't sort out the fly tipping problem in the town centre and all of Macclesfield?

"We need to make penalties costlier for those who are fly tipping, and also make it easier to dispose of rubbish legally.

"Also, I recently saw on Facebook that Cheshire East Council is closing the Congleton Tip. I couldn't believe this.

"I do not want this. This means more rubbish will be coming into Macclesfield and this will increase people doing fly tipping, in addition to creating more traffic on the Congleton road. The Macclesfield recycling centre will be very busy."

Macclesfield Nub News: You want to clamp down on Council Tax by fighting the Labour Led Town and Cheshire East Councils. But how you would fight for it, as you would be the only Conservative on the Macclesfield Town Council?

Abhishika Srivastav: "I know it is going to be very hard for me [if elected as the only Conservative on the Labour-led Macclesfield Town Council]. But the people of Macclesfield have a clear choice about the Councillor they are choosing.

"The current councillors are not thinking about the normal working people that live in Macclesfield. They never think about the people, and I think the nearly 25% increase in two years is partly because there is no opposition. No one speaking up for ordinary families, many of whom will have seen their incomes fall over or even lost jobs, for them, 25% increase in the MTC precept, along with the 40% increase in the Police and Crime Commissioner charge since 2017 despite real increase in central government funding, is really unbelievable.

"Some of what they are now doing was originally proposed where the Conservatives running the council, and much of this is reasonable and make sense. But in many areas, they are just not holding Cheshire East to account and failing to get fair deal for Macclesfield.

"There is real groupthink now on the town council, with no different voices or opinion being raised or considers, this makes for poor decision making.

"I'll try my best to stop them for make any decision which one against residents, we need a strong voice of opposition to stand up to this."

Macclesfield Nub News: What is your relationship with our MP David Rutley like?

Abhishika Srivastav: "David has been very supportive. He is a really good man. We first met during the 2019 General Election.

"Labour had been doing very negative campaigning about him and I didn't like that with all the flyers and things they put on their website.

"From my personal experience as a resident, if I have any concerns I have sent him an email and he has always politely replied. And if there is any progress later on your case he will tell you.

"After the pandemic especially I have sent him so many emails about school funding, mask wearing, and adult education, where I have been recently studying online."

Macclesfield Nub News: Are there any other policies not mentioned that you'd like to implement?

Abhishika Srivastav: "When I read the Macclesfield history - of course - having hundreds of old silk mills and thinking about the heritage where we lived - I think the new generation doesn't know about this.

"So we need to work on a big idea that celebrates our heritage. Rather than just saying we have heritage as they say in the meetings all the time. We need an idea that celebrates this.

"We need a big idea to encourage people to shop local. Because I think about Macclesfield's history and yes we are known for their mills, but we are also known as a market town.

"If we said, buy local, you know most of us in Macclesfield - 70% of people that live here - they have families and they just buy the cheap supermarket things that are best for them. If the local offering is costly, they aren't going to buy it. It is harsh but true.

"And my idea is this. Macclesfield is known for their markets. But there is only one named market a month [Treacle Market]. Before there was a full market in the week.

"I would want a permanent full-sized new market at least on weekends.

"As a businesswoman, if there was a market on the weekend, it would encourage more people to shop in the town centre rather than to go to the supermarket and spend their money there. Tis will be helpful to the local farmers, boutiques and other vendors, and the local shops always open during that time. They also get some new customers.

"If we want to involve the people in the town recovery plan, we need to bring back our market again."

Macclesfield Nub News: While I know about your short-term environmental policy (fly tipping), what long-term eco-friendly initiatives would you like to see in Macclesfield?

Abhishika Srivastav: "I find it strange that the Council are holding meetings to allow housing development and giving planning permission for new buildings on green belt land, and at the same time they are starting a summit to save the environment. There is a big difference from their work, and their words. The words are something, and what they are doing is something else. Totally different.

"If I am there, I will believe in my work. I will get them to talk.

"But how can we save the greenbelt? We need to build more houses, and there are lots of empty buildings around Macclesfield that can't get planning permission for development.

" I believe if you want to save the greenbelt leave our greenbelt alone, they have survived years before so they survived without human interference for many more years.

"I would also want to see a street recycling bin as well. There are no recycling bins in the town centre."

Macclesfield Nub News: Above all, what do you think the biggest issue is facing our town?

Abhishika Srivastav: The biggest issue is the regeneration of the town centre. There are no more small shops. The rates are very high. Who would want to pay the rates without any