THIS IS WHAT GOSPORT HAS BECOME! This photograph really says it all. This is Graham and his wife, local residents of Fort Road who have lived and worked in our amazing town for 75 years. This is a statement from Cllr Paul Carter, Reform UKs lead in Gosport; On Sunday night, I went to Fort Road after residents contacted me because they were frightened and concerned about what was happening. When I spoke to Graham and his wife, I initially thought their concern would be about the protesters, the barricades or the disruption. It wasn’t. They were worried about what their town had become. They stood outside their own home watching events unfold on their own road — with roads blocked, access disrupted and nails and screws left on the ground. And yet people like Graham and his wife, who have spent 75 years living and working in this community, were left feeling like their own neighbourhood had been taken away from them. They were not looking for trouble. They were not causing trouble. They were simply residents standing outside their home trying to understand what was happening. Yet the Government has used language to describe people involved in the events as “thugs”. I think we need to be very careful about painting everyone with the same brush. There were residents, protesters, police officers, emergency services and many others caught up in an extraordinary situation. And through it all, ordinary residents were left dealing with the consequences. This is their road. Their home. Their community. said: “This highlights the State Enforcers deployed against the people, blocking OUR roads and access to and from our own homes and you can even see the nails on the ground. This is what all those who voted in favour of selling the Fort Road Car Park have inflicted on us all! Importing a dystopian, apocalyptical nightmare. And remember also the Home Office ‘make no apologies’ for what they are doing. SHAME ON THEM ALL. And they still expect us to pay £66 a week in rates. And it’s only just begun. Graham has given permission for this photograph and for his name and story to be shared publicly because he wants people to understand what residents experienced. Whatever your views on the wider issue, local residents should never feel forgotten in their own town. Gosport deserves better! Our roads. Our homes. Our community. Our voice. 🇬🇧