THE ward covering Liden, Eldene and Park South marks a transition for Swindon.

At its north-eastern end, it is an urban suburb. Park South was one of the areas of significant public housebuilding during the post-war years as Swindon grew and holds a fair proportion of the borough council’s housing stock. 

How that housing is managed – and how much rent tenants are charged – will always be an issue here. 

At the eastern and southern edges LEPS – as it is known – merges into the semi-rural wards of Chiseldon and Lawn, and Ridgeway and its housing in Liden and Eldene is part of a more recent expansion of the town.

Voters here will be watching the expansion of Swindon just over the ward border and the A419 as part of the New Eastern Villages scheme with interest and possibly some concern. How their areas are impacted by traffic and what extra demand on infrastructure such as doctors and schools there will be remains a key question. 

Veteran Labour councillor Fay Howard is retiring after 18 years and the party's supporters will hope to welcome another in her place. 

The party’s candidate in this election is Steve Allsopp. He is the sitting councillor for Walcot and Park North, but is standing in this ward this time. 

Coun Allsopp’s record as a councillor stretches back more than 40 years to when Swindon was administered by Wiltshire County and Thamesmead District councils. He was first elected in 1978 and has been a councillor continuously since 1989. 

His party will also be  hoping the voters of the ward remain solid in their support. 

Since the ward was created in 2012, splitting away from its Park North neighbour and picking up Eldene from Dorcan, it has always returned Labour candidates – although in 2015 that was  just by 39 votes. 

In 2019 the Labour candidate was Bazil Solomon and while the party struggled elsewhere he was voted in with a more than respectable 45 per cent of the vote – 11 points ahead of his nearest rival from the Conservatives. 

But in  short order however Coun Solomon defected to the Conservatives and will hold his seat until 2023, to Labour’s frustration.

Conservative candidate Curtis Flux will be hoping the last election turned the tide in the ward. 

With Labour  being one short of the number of members it feels it ought to have, it will know that this is another ward in which maintaining its vote it vital to any hope of success across the borough. 
Independent candidate Martin Costello fought the election where Coun Solomon was elected, but for UKIP, coming third.

Meet the candidates

Steve Allsopp (Labour)

"An experienced campaigner, I am a long-term resident of East Swindon. An active co-operator, I put the core values of community and solidarity at the heart of my politics.

"I want to restore Swindon’s status as an example of how a well-run local authority should act. In particular I believe Swindon needs more affordable housing to buy and rent. 

"I want Swindon to grow its local economy and create better paying jobs that will stay in the town. We need to make better use of the skills and abilities of local people. Above all I believe tackling climate change is an opportunity not a threat and wants to see Swindon respond as positively as neighbouring Wiltshire in ensuring the next generation have a world fit to live in. 

"Finally as a Swindon Town Football Club season ticket holder I want to see justice for the fans from the FA." 

Martin Costello (Independent)

"The two-party system is an illusion of democracy and completely broken. Incompetent people get elected on the colour of their badge rather than ability which is evident from the demise of Swindon when we should be competing with Bristol, Oxford and Reading.

"We are giving Swindon's silent majority a reason to come out and vote in what we regard as a referendum to say YES to end the bizarre lockdown restrictions immediately and to say NO to vaccine passports that we believe is a creeping attack on our basic liberties and will create a two tier social system. Perhaps no jab will mean no job and social sanctions next?

"It is now time for the left and right to unite and give the political establishment a 'bloody nose' and remind them they are here to serve us and not the other way round, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to do this."

Curtis Flux (Conservative)

"I live here in the ward with my fiancée and our young children and I am also a local business owner and passionate community campaigner.

"Having worked on many local projects and community initiatives, like the Window Wanderland, I believe that now is the right time to put myself forward to represent our local area on the borough council. 

"I have a track record of helping to raise and solve local issues, providing support to elderly and vulnerable residents, organising community events to prevent social isolation during lockdown, and working to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. 

"It is important to me that our community gets it fair share of investment and elects someone who will ensure our collective voice is heard on the council. 

"That is why I am asking you to elect me as one of your borough councillors in the crucial local elections on Thursday, May 6."

Malcolm Salmon (Lib Dem)

"Eldene has been my home for the last 23 years, the area along with Liden and Park South has evolved to become pleasant areas in which to live – but there is so much more potential to be realised with many areas underutilised.

"We must make this area special and give our young people something to be proud of. Swindon is growing rapidly, sometimes awkwardly; decisions made in cabinet haven't at times worked.  

"More openness and transparency is required with more open debate in council, a more inclusive method of working where decisions are made in council rather than cabinet, we’ve seen nationally how government by cabinet has broken down. 

"We must heed those lessons and apply them locally to enable the town and its people to grow together. 

"If elected my aim would be to lessen the polarisation, bring people together, work for each other rather than against each other."