INDEPENDENT candidates will contest all 20 wards available in the next Swindon borough elections if a new group has its way.

The public are invited to meet possible candidates tomorrow evening (THUR) at Coleview Community Centre in Towcester Road.

The aim of the group, called Swindon Independent, is to gauge public opinion about whether the time is right for a movement in local government which promises to shun party politics and be wholly accountable to voters.

One candidate who has already publicly identified himself is Tony Hillier, who has worked in many roles ranging from teacher and charity manager to community poet. He plans to stand in Covingham and Dorcan.

The catalyst for Independent Swindon was January’s protest meeting about the possible leasing of Lydiard House to the private sector, which was attended by about 750 people.

Tony said: “That confirmed what I felt already in my bones, that people were dissatisfied with the decisions of the local authority and the way they were made.

“I thought, ‘Maybe it’s party political influence on the local council that’s blocking the voters of Swindon from getting their voices through, and that also that the policy and decision-making is not accessible.’

“I believe – and many other people believe – that party politics gets in the way of local decision-making. Councillors have to follow the party whip and are not able to honestly represent the feelings of their ward voters.

“Independent councillors can listen to ward members.”

According to Tony, independence means being able to act directly on voters’ views about anything from the environment to the efficient use of resources.

He added: “A group of twelve of us have been meeting over the last few weeks to thrash out the idea.

“The public meeting is to see whether there’s a sufficient number of other people who think the time is right. We want to hear from people who think it’s a good idea – and people who think it’s not a good idea.

“We’re really coming from the point of view of a new dialogue and perception of local politics – not whether they’re left, right or centre but whether they’re representing the wards.”

The Lydiard House meeting which helped to inspire Independent Swindon was organised by the Friends of Lydiard Park.

That charity’s chairman, Mike Bowden, said he was pleased that the meeting was a catalyst, and wished Swindon Independent success.

Tomorrow’s meeting starts at 7pm. Swindon Independent is on Facebook.