CONSERVATIVE candidate Giles Watling has laid out his plan for Clacton if he is elected as the town’s next MP.

Mr Watling is the bookies’ favourite to win the Clacton seat at the General Election on June 8.

The 64-year-old actor and district councillor for Frinton has proposed setting up a task force with prospective Tory North Essex MPs Bernard Jenkin and Will Quince to call for upgrades to the railway network and the A12.

Unveiling his plan, Mr Watling said: “The arguments for the national case for voting Conservative at this election have now been well laid out - Theresa May is the best possible answer taking the country forward to the new world beyond Brexit.

“We must give her the mandate to deal forcefully with our neighbours in Europe.

“However I feel it is time to reiterate some of my aims for Clacton, and indeed lay out an exciting plan I have formulated to bring real positive change to the area as a whole.

“I have for years been banging on about our poor service from the railways that serve our area.

“It is shameful that in the 21st century the journey to London - a mere 70 miles - takes over an hour and a half.

“The A12 is one of the most dangerous and congested roads in the country which needs upgrading.

“I have proposed that in north-east Essex we form a powerful triumvirate of MPs - I will join Bernard Jenkin, of Harwich and North Essex, and Will Quince, of Colchester.

“We will be the Infrastructure and Economy Task Force useing our combined influence at Westminster and our considerably talented local officers to bring about real change to our much overlooked area.

“This is an innovation that will bring massive benefits to all in North East Essex.”

Mr Watling added that his other priorities would be to work with Essex Police and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour by ensuring more police officers are “seen on the street rather than wasting time on pointless paperwork”.

“Police need to be visible and proactive,” he added.

He Mr Watling said he will also put pressure on local health bosses to do more to attract more doctors to the Tendring area – and said he is also campaigning for Clacton’s minor injuries unit to be saved from closure.

He added: “I will also continue to fight to keep our very valuable Minor Injuries Unit at Clacton Hospital. “Having brought up two children in the area I have used it on occasion and found it a marvellous facility. “If it goes, it means a long journey to A&E in Colchester.

“Furthermore, it will overload an already pressurised service.”

Mr Watling, who is also Tendring Council’s cabinet member for planning and regeneration, added: “I will continue use the very close relationship I have with the council to stop benefit tourism by making sure we put local people first when allocating benefits and housing.”

Also standing for the Clacton seat at the General Election are: David Grace (Lib Dem), Nick Martin (Ind), Paul Oakley (Ukip), Natasha Osben (Lab), Caroline Shearer (Ind), Chris Southall (Green) and Robin Tilbrook (English Democrats).