Chiseldon & Lawns candidates set out election promises

The election this year in Chiseldon & Lawn is a by-election, caused by the death of sitting councillor and deputy mayor of Swindon Brian Mattock.

Coun Mattock was elected for his seat in 2018 and the four-year term runs out next year, so the winning candidate in this ward in May will only serve for a year before having to stand for election again.

Although polls last year were delayed for a year by the Covid-19 pandemic, future elections will be held according to the original cycle, rather than moving everything on a year.

Chiseldon & Lawn is a ‘sister’ ward to next door Ridgeway.

The two wards between them ‘share’ the three councillors every other ward in Swindon has – there are two for Chiseldon & Lawn and one for Ridgeway.

This election is the first since 2012, when boundaries were redrawn, where voters of both Ridgeway and Chiseldon & Lawn have gone to the polls.

The north of the ward is urban and suburban featuring the buildings on the south side of Queens Drive, alongside Marlborough Road and in Broome Manor.

The further south one travels the more rural it gets. South of the M4 which bisects it, the ward is characterised by open space, farmland, and the villages of Chiseldon and Hodson.

The popular visitor attraction of Coate Water is in the ward – and maintaining and improving it will be important to many.

Since its creation in 2012, breaking off from Wroughton and Chiseldon, the ward has been solidly Conservative.

In the past three elections in the ward Conservative candidates, first Fionuala Foley in 2015, then Coun Mattock in 2018 and sitting councillor Jenny Jefferies in 2019 have won with more than 50 per cent of the votes.

The Green candidate from that last election Paul Sunners will be hoping to improve on his second showing then, although he was a long way back- his 25 per cent vote share half that of his Conservative opponent.

This year there are five candidates for the one-year term, with three left-of-centre parties in Labour, Green and Liberal Democrats hoping to take votes away from the Conservatives.

The effect of an anti-lockdown independent candidate will be interesting but if the Conservatives don’t hold Chiseldon and Lawn it would bode ill for the party’s hopes of remaining in power across the borough.

Candidates in full

Fareed Ahmed Quidwai – Liberal Democrat

Fareen Quidwai

As a professional engineer, I am employed in a multinational medical device company. I’m married with two children and enjoy being actively involved in community work.

I believe in standing as a candidate in Chiseldon & Lawn I will have greater opportunities to serve my community in a more impactful way. I am an Irish-Asian and regard myself as an International person who supports integration and multiculturalism.

As a local councillor, I believe I could better serve the residents of this ward. I am currently working on with local volunteers such as litter picking. As I reside in Badbury Park, the issues related to this ward are of prime concern to myself and my desire to give my children a brighter future. Policies such as renovating Coate Water, promoting local enterprise, saving the Oasis and more jobs for Swindon are my priorities.

Wayne Robert Barrowman – Independent

Wayne Barrowman

I am a husband and father of two young sons with no previous political interest.

I have become increasingly concerned with the ever-changing goal posts, fear-messaging and nonsensical restrictions imposed upon us in the past year. I want to help us move out of the current restrictions without any of the extra control measures proposed, such as “Covid certificates”, track and trace or mass testing.

My goal for my time as councillor for Chiseldon & Lawn is not just about the transition out of lockdown. I want to make the future better than the past, where our political systems serve our communities rather than individual candidates’ agendas or views. I will focus on working with the whole community to bring a sense of connection between the local body politic and the people it is supposed to serve.

William Alexander Horley - The Conservative Party

William Horley

This election is taking place in Chiseldon & Lawn following the sad passing of Coun Brian Mattock, who was extremely popular and respected, not only by residents here in the ward he represented, but with people right the way across the town and beyond.

I have lived in Badbury Park for the past five years and a current parish councillor for the local area.

Since being first elected I have been working to reduce speeding along Queens Drive, establish a Neighbourhood Watch, encourage investment in Coate Water, and support residents in disputes over the misselling of leaseholds. If elected, I will continue to work on issues such as reducing the volume of HGVs, road resurfacing and rollout out fibre broadband in Chiseldon; exploring traffic calming measures and securing our green areas against travellers in the Lawns; and holding Persimmon and Redrow to their promises in Badbury Park.

Mohammad Khatib - Labour Party

Mohammed Khatib

I would be immensely proud to play a role in the revival of Swindon and be your representative for Chiseldon & Lawn ward.

I have lived in Swindon for 20 years and I’m passionate about the town. I am concerned with the current deterioration in our public spaces and reduced council services in many areas; community safety, support networks for people of different needs, keeping our roads free from potholes, pruning hedges and trees, and to save the iconic Oasis — and keep low council tax.

The rural aspect of Chiseldon & Lawn is distinct; as Badbury Park continues to grow, more community spaces and public amenities are needed. I support every action that reduces the impact of climate change. My priorities are to address the key issues raised by our residents. If elected I will be a strong voice to make Chiseldon & Lawn and Swindon a better place for all its residents.

Paul Sunners - Green Party

Paul Sunners

As a member of the Green Party, I will represent its principles at the elections on May 6. I have been privileged to serve as a Chiseldon Parish councillor since 2010, during which time I’ve maintained an active interest in environmental initiatives.

As chair of Wiltshire Neighbourhood Watch, I continue to promote the principles inherent in supporting safer communities across Swindon and Wiltshire. I believe that our fast-changing, complex world demands a more consensual political ‘voice’ that truly represents the interests of all people. The ‘voice’ of the Green Party reflects a commitment to fairness, citizen participation, shared responsibility, peace, and environmental protection. A vote for your local Green Party candidate will ensure current ‘Green’ policies across Swindon are further supported and developed.