In the line of fire

Not many councillors keep up with their ward work from the centre of a war zone. Cllr David Reynolds (Con) explains how he juggled his work as a member of Plymouth city council with his military duties serving on the frontline in Afghanistan.

Weeks after I was elected to Plymouth city council last May, I found myself being called up for service in Afghanistan. I have been a reservist in the Territorial Army for 12 years and have seen service in the Balkans, Baghdad and more recently three tours of Afghanistan.

In the real world I run a publishing company, which is hard work but great fun and, as it has matured, I decided to get more involved in local politics with the aim of helping to improve the community and make changes for the better.

As a lieutenant colonel with the Parachute Regiment my job is to direct the information campaign and to make sure that the government’s strategic message on Afghanistan is delivered to the international community and the UK public.

‘Muck and bullets’

It is not an easy task, the media want to write about ‘muck and bullets’ and the government want to deliver news of reconstruction, which is difficult when the Taliban have maintained a strong presence in Helmand. My daily task was to brief the commander, inform London of activities and present the media situation to visiting MPs, including the prime minister.

Few people knew of my political role and it had no impact on the job. When I prepared visits for the prime minister it was to ensure that his media impact was effective and well delivered.

But it was important to me that I maintained communications with constituents in Plymouth. The city council was able to re-direct my emails to my civilian laptop and whenever the opportunity arose I answered emails on issues ranging from rubbish in the streets to more serious matters. It was a simple and effective process which worked so well that one night, after a particularly bad day when we had lost three soldiers and several more had been injured, as well as attacks on the base, I checked my emails to see a message from council officers warning staff to be careful on the roads after heavy rain had flooded a key route in the city. That raised a smile!

Delivering development

Since British troops first entered southern Afghanistan, the government aim to deliver security to allow reconstruction and development has been under attack in the media, mainly because many do not appreciate the challenges of development projects in Helmand.

During my tour we had to deliver a 100- tonne turbine to the Kajaki hydro-electric dam which would provide power to businesses across southern Afghanistan and boost the economy.

The media challenge was immense. I asked for a defence advisory notice to be issued which prevents the media writing about sensitive matters. After eight weeks planning and a difficult 112-mile journey across open desert, the turbine and the 100-vehicle convoy arrived.

I had the BBC and various newspaper reporters at the dam and at the appropriate time I lifted the notice. Almost every UK paper carried the story on their front page and broadcast stations ran it all day. Its success allowed the government to demonstrate that their overall aim of delivering development was taking place.

Back in Plymouth I received support from both Conservative and Labour colleagues and quickly settled back into the routine of meetings. The workload can be demanding and instead of talking about redevelopment in Helmand I have briefings about redevelopment in Plymouth where we are about to build the biggest Olympic standard sports centre outside London. It will hopefully encourage the city’s next generation of swimmers like Sharron Davies and Tom Daley.

It is a unique city with the spectacular waterfront, a national park on its doorstep and a host of emerging businesses. While all cities are re-adjusting budgets in the shadow of recession, Plymouth is maintaining a number of projects to support business. It is hard work but very rewarding and worthwhile.

• Last year Cllr Reynolds (QVRM) was decorated by the Queen for his work in Afghanistan and Iraq.