Duryard & Pennsylvania includes two Exeter City Council wards: Duryard & St James (covering Duryard) and Pennsylvania
our County Council candidate in May 2025 is
BERNADETTE CHELVANAYAGAM
A proven track record of working with residents
I’ve lived, studied, and worked in Exeter for 28 years, 20 of them in Pennsylvania. As a working parent and private renter, I know the daily challenges many people face. I’ve worked in the private and public sectors in paid and voluntary roles. I now work as a Home Energy Advisor, helping residents in or at risk of fuel poverty. I see first-hand how ongoing funding cuts to vital services are hurting our community — all while food bank use and fuel voucher requests keep rising.
Listening to you to get the basics right
I believe we have enough for everyone to live with dignity, in Exeter and beyond. On the doorstep, residents raise issues they’re concerned about. I want to ensure that your voice is heard. I know how important it is to find solutions together. If elected, I will push the council to get the basics right. This means:
– Proper public engagement
– Fair and timely decisions for those needing adult social care
– Working better with parents and carers to help improve SEND services
– Protecting green spaces, planting more trees
– Making homes energy efficient
– Making sure pavements are clean and safe
– Fixing potholes and ensuring road crossings are in the right place
– Ensuring that drains are cleared to prevent flooding
Unlike other parties, the Green party don’t tell their councillors how to vote, meaning I’ll always put your interests first, not party politics.
Green support is growing
In just five years, we’ve grown from just one city councillor to seven. Meanwhile, support for the Tories has collapsed and Labour is failing to deliver positive change either locally or nationally. At a time when local councils are to be reorganised, we need councillors who will fight for local democracy and put the needs of our communities before the interests of their party.