An interview with Lilli Osborn, Glastonbury Council by-election candidate
Somerset Councillor and General Election 2024 candidate Faye Purbrick, took a walk around the centre of Glastonbury (with Dave the Dog) to discuss why Lilli would make such a strong and positive councillor for Glastonbury ahead of the by election on the 23rd October. Take a listen here or read the transcript below….
Faye Purbrick - Interviewer
So I'm here in Glastonbury High Street with Lil Osborne, the conservative candidate for the upcoming by election for Somerset Council. Lil’s been a town councillor for a number of years and is an avid supporter of the town. Now, a lot of people who are going to be going out to vote on the 23rd of October will wonder what it is about you that they should be supporting.
You've done lots of things in the town around anti-social behaviour and saving the pharmacies and stuff like that. Just in a in a nutshell, what would you say to somebody thinking about going out and voting for you next month?
Lilli Osborn - Somerset Council Candidate
I live in the absolute town centre. I live in the high street. I'm really aware of the problems that face the town in terms of things like anti-social behaviour, in terms of tourism, parking bin collection, the many things that make living in Glastonbury actually not the mystical experience perhaps tourists think it is.
Faye Purbrick - Interviewer
So, the kind of things that people really rely on, a good local councillor that I can go to to help with that problem?
Lilli Osborn - Somerset Council Candidate
Absolutely, given the sort of chaotic state of Somerset Council and it's I mean, I work very closely with adult social care. I know how stretched they are. I never seem to get the same social worker twice when I phone up, because they all seem to be locums. People are doing their best in very, very trying circumstances.
Faye Purbrick - Interviewer
So you'll be that kind of core stability for people, somebody to come to, who can fight their way through to hopefully try and find them answers?
Lillie Osborn - Somerset Council Candidate
Absolutely. And, I've been supporting the people on lots of grassroots issues such as housing, hospital beds.
Faye Purbrick - Interviewer
All those key things, you know, healthy, happy families. Now, the thing that we can't not talk about when we talk about Glastonbury is the challenge of the caravans, the illegal encampments. And I know we've spoken in the past about the fact…
Lillie Osborn - Somerset Council Candidate
… that Glastonbury is known for its alternative life site lifestyle, and that's absolutely great.
Faye Purbrick - Interviewer
But you're a very strong believer in people abiding by the law and speaking up for that.
Lillie Osborn - Somerset Council Candidate
Yes. The what they call them, the non bricks and mortar community. It's actually not a monolithic community. There are some gypsy Roma traveller people who have a protected characteristic of their ethnicity. But the vast majority of people who live in caravans in Glastonbury are not in that community. It's either a lifestyle choice, and I'm absolutely happy that, people should make that choice.
What I oppose is it being paid for by other people, and I am absolutely, in favour of proper legal campsites where people will pay a small rent and make the contribution to council tax just like everybody else.
Other people who live in caravans do so, because they have no alternative. They don't particularly want to be there. It's not a lifestyle choice, it’s been thrust upon them through poverty. And that's something that needs to be addressed. It's not just money. For some it's things like mental health issues. And we have very, very poor mental health services here.
But despite that, people with mental health issues tend to flock to Glastonbury. We need to be addressing local connection and how we deal with this
Faye Purbrick - Interviewer
So Lil in your day job. You're an advocate. What does that involve? The phone call comes. What happens?
Lillie Osborn - Somerset Council Candidate
Well, basically, I advocate, on behalf of people who do not have the mental capacity to advocate for themselves. The majority of people I'm involved with are elderly people, with various forms of dementia. Of course, we have a very high proportion of elderly people here in Somerset, because people come here to retire and as they age, they become dependent on the services provided by the council.
I work very closely with adult social care in ensuring that, for example, people who are held on deprivation of liberty orders, have the least restrictive option put upon them.
Faye Purbrick - Interviewer
So you're standing up for, for people's rights, basically, and doing what a family member might do if they were here.
Lillie Osborn - Somerset Council Candidate
It's exactly that sense. A family member can do part of it, part of the job I do. But if you don't have a family member to do it, you are automatically qualified for, not the court.
Faye Purbrick - Interviewer
So it sounds very much me like being a local councillor. People come to you with problems. These people may be, you know, you're asked to represent them when they got issues. But as a councillor for Glastonbury, you'll be able to use a skill set that you very much have and use already.
Lillie Osborn - Somerset Council Candidate
Yes. I mean, I appear in the court protection, I go to PIP tribunals. You know, a lot of different aspects of what I do, not just for the elderly, but, anyone whose mental capacity is impaired.
Faye Purbrick - Interviewer
Well, that sounds like some skills. We could we could really do with, at the council and certainly some common sense, which which I suppose comes back to, you know, you, the concerns you have around anti-social behaviour. And I know you and I have been speaking for many years about the public space protection order (PSPO) that you've been advocating for, for the high street and some of the problems that the Glastonbury sees.
So, you know, what would you say to whoever is sitting on that at the council they've.
Lillie Osborn - Somerset Council Candidate
They’ve got to deal with, especially the aspect of, making alcohol consumption in the high street. An issue that, the police can pour away the alcohol if people are getting out of hand. Alcohol consumption in Glastonbury High Street is really the nub of a lot of the problem. People seem to be able to get their hands on alcohol almost 24 / 7
Faye Purbrick - Interviewer
So, there's plenty of things that, as a councillor, you would be working to stand up for the people of Glastonbury for. But I think one of the key things is you live in the heart of Glastonbury. I mean, we're out walking with Dave the dog now, and you're out doing that every day. People should stop and talk to you, ask you questions before they go out and vote on the 23rd.
But what would be your kind of final message to anybody who maybe hasn't voted Conservative in the past? And isn't really sure where to put, their vote on the 23rd of October? What would you say to them to just sum up why they should be putting that backing behind you.
Lillie Osborn - Somerset Council Candidate
If you fail to vote at all? You create a situation in which somebody with perhaps very little support ends up in a position of power. We've seen that with our national government. Now, I know a lot of people are fed up with the Conservatives, and I hear quite often on the doorstep, we didn't stop illegal immigration when we had the chance.
And I understand that is a concern, but voting reform is not going to make any difference in this election because Somerset Council cannot stop any boats.
Faye Purbrick - Interviewer
So really what it's about is voting for you as a local person who's going to stand up for people.
Lillie Osborn - Somerset Council Candidate
A local person who has worked with this community is part of this community, and is somebody for whom the success of Glastonbury and its continuation as a special place, a place that people want to visit for a myriad of reasons, I want that to be retained.
Faye Purbrick - Interviewer
Now that sounds fantastic. Okay. I think the, the, the one thing that anybody can take from talking to you ever - and hopefully listening to this conversation - is that you will be a strong voice for Glastonbury, somebody who shares local people's values, who wants to see it as a safe, thriving place that is fair for everybody. Lil thank you very much for your time today and good luck on the 23rd.
I hope everybody goes out and votes for you.
Lille Osborn - Somerset Council Candidate
Thank you so much.
