THE dust has barely settled on her rampant election victory, but Anita Harrison has already penned plans to transform Bransholme's reputation over the next four years.
Councillor Harrison secured her fourth term in office when she romped home ahead of her two rivals at the local elections on May 22.
The Bransholme East representative secured 1,033 votes – considerably more than Conservative Colin Baxter (111) and Liberal Democrat Eleanor Wood (119) put together.
But rather than revel in the glory, Cllr Harrison has today listed her top five priorities for the estate. They are:
• To tackle unemployment among the young.
• Transform the reputation of Bransholme.
• To launch a new youth club in the Garths, close to Noddle Hill.
• To give unpaid work experience and job interview tests to children on the estate.
• To continue to support Bransholme Buddies – a group that travels round the estate looking after the elderly and giving youths activities to do.
"One of the biggest things to annoy me is the way people look down on those who come from Bransholme," Cllr Harrison said. "It is like people take a step back when they hear somebody is from the estate.
"But we are a breed of our own and we are all very proud people.
"There is nowhere else I would want to live or represent.
"People from outside the estate assume that everyone is on the dole, but it just isn't true. The majority of people are working but they are on a very low wage."
According to Cllr Harrison, the single biggest problem on the housing estate – home to more than 30,000 people – is poverty.
The Mail revealed in January how crime had risen by 10 per cent across North Carr between 2012 and last year.
"Poverty is the biggest problem we face in Bransholme," said Cllr Harrison.
"The residents here, as hard working as they are, are not skilled and receive low wages as a result.
"The national average salary is just under £30,000, but it is less than half that on this estate.
"People are sometimes desperate because all they are thinking about is where the next meal is coming from or how they are going to pay the latest water bill.
"Things are very tough for so many people.
"Although Bransholme is a better place than it was ten years ago, there are, of course, still problems.
"Unemployment among the young is one of them and I want to address that by getting youths more involved in community work."
Wind turbine giant Siemens confirmed in March an historic £310m deal to build a huge new factory complex in Hull – creating thousands of jobs and transforming the region's fortunes.
It is hoped, along with the Hull's UK City of Culture status in 2017, this will generate prosperity for Bransholme, as well as the rest of the city.
"I have my doubts as to whether it will make a difference to Bransholme, but it is only fair it does," said Cllr Harrison.
"The quicker we get people on the estate trained, the more chance there is of better times coming to this estate.
"As well as poverty, the people of Bransholme think they are worthless because of the paint they are brushed with by others outside the estate.
"It is not fair, because there are thousands of good people on this estate who need to know they do have a voice. That is my job and I take it very seriously."
By the next election in 2018, Cllr Harrison will have served her community for 16 years.
After starting out as a Liberal Democrat, Cllr Harrison became an independent, before switching her allegiance to Labour.
"That proves it really doesn't matter what party you represent, if people want you in, they will vote for you," she said.
"I put my success down to me being a community councillor. I am out in the community speaking to people all the time and that is exactly how it should be.
"I have lots of help from volunteers, who are my eyes and ears on the ground.
"Whenever I go away, I love coming back to Bransholme for the community spirit and the green fields around the estate.
"People from outside say it is dirty, but it is easily the cleanest estate in the city.
"I want to thank everybody who voted for me and I promise to work extremely hard for everyone."
Cllr Harrison is particularly interested in hearing from parents in the Garths area coming forward with activity ideas for their children.
To get in contact with her, call 07766 468016.
