In the west of the ward, sometimes called Old Walcot, is an area of housing mainly built in the 1930s, butting up to Old Town. Over Queens Drive Walcot East is part of the post-war expansion of Swindon along with Park North – featuring hundreds of mid-century social housing. 

For an area of dense housing the green swathe of the park separating Walcot East from Park North is a welcome respite, and the Queens Drive campus of New College Swindon is a popular educational and training establishment

Although Cavendish Square is just over the ward boundary of Whitbourne Avenue in Park South, its state and the ongoing saga of redevelopment will matter to the people of Park North. It’s the centre of the Parks areas, with a library, shops and services. 

The state of the car park which floods easily has been causing residents anger for some time. All the candidates will be aware of their disquiet. 

The ward was created in 2012 when Swindon’s boundaries were radically redrawn. Previously Park South had been included with its northerly neighbour in a ward called simply Parks. Walcot had been a ward of its own. 

Parks was solidly Labour apart from 2008 when it returned one Labour and one Conservative candidate. 

Walcot was much more of a swing ward – it elected Conservative councillors in 2003, 2007 and 2008 and Labour candidates in 2004 and 20011. 

In 2012, when all candidates in all wards were up for re-election, the new ward of Walcot and Park North sent three Labour councillors to Euclid Street. 

And ever since it has been in the Labour column – increasingly so in more recent elections. 

In 2014 one of the current sitting councillors Abdul Amin won the seat with a 39.3 percentage share – but it would have been beaten by a combination of the 28.6 per cent taken by the UKIP candidate and the 19.5 taken by the Conservatives. 

Since then, there has been little danger to Labour’s grip on the ward – in 2015 Emma Bushell won with a 47.5 per cent share, Steve Allsopp got 53.4 per cent in 2017, Abdul Amin did better with 55 per cent in 2018 and Coun Bushell kept up the domination in 2019 with 53 per cent. 

This year Labour have taken the unusual decision that Coun Allsopp, who has represented the ward since 2012, will not be defending it. Instead he is standing in the neighbouring Liden, Elden and Park South.

Hoping to replace him is Mohammed Miah. In an election without an incumbent the odds always narrow, and the impact of an independent candidate standing against Covid restrictions is hard to predict, but if Labour have any serious ambitions to be taking power in Swindon, this is a seat they must hold. 

Meet the candidates:

Francisco Goes (Conservative)

“I have lived here in Walcot and Park North for the past nine years and have throughout that time worked tirelessly for the community.

“Many of you will know me from my time volunteering in the community or through my work supporting some of fantastic local charities. 

“I have also been involved with the Buckhurst Park Community Centre for the past five years and have been a member of the team who has helped attract more users to the centre that ever before. 

“I have also worked with different migrant groups to help provide opportunities for integration and to promote the British way of life. 

“If elected on Thursday, May 6, I promise that I will champion our community on the council and work with others to secure safer streets and our fair share of funding and investment.”

Mohammed Miah (Labour)

“I am honoured to be standing for election in Walcot and Park North in the May 6 local elections. 

“I have lived in Park North with my family for 20 years. All of my children have grown up in Park North. I have been a parish councillor for Walcot and Park North for four years and have worked hard with my colleagues to improve green spaces and play areas. 

“As a resident I am concerned by issues such as housing, anti-social behaviour and drug dealing affecting local people. 

“If elected I will keep working with my colleagues councillors Emma Bushell and Abdul Amin to ensure the voices of residents are heard.”

Sharon Newham (Independent)

“I work in the hospitality industry, so have seen first hand the devastation lockdown measures have caused. 

“I want a better future for my children. 

“The change needs to be now, and starts with real people pushing forward.”

Dawn Pajak (Liberal Democrat)

“I first met my husband Stan when I was a nurse at Princess Margaret Hospital and whilst raising a family in Swindon I became firmly involved in not just their education but endeavouring to enrich the education of children throughout Swindon.

“In that vein I have been working at Holy Rood school for 24 years. My top priorities remain the Liberal Democrat values of the NHS, education and supporting the charities and communities that enrich all of our lives. 

“I have served as a South Swindon parish councillor in the past but would now like to push my work to Swindon Borough Council in order to foster a greater education strategy that closes the ever-widening gaps in attainment.”