SWINDON ELECTIONS: Profile of candidates

Today, we meet the candidates for Old Town & Lawn, Parks, Penhill, Shaw & Nine Elms and St Margaret

OLD TOWN AND LAWN

Defending their seat: Fionuala Foley (Conservative)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

As an ‘Old Town Girl’ born in Okus Road I am extremely proud to have represented the Old Town & Lawn Ward for the last 11 years. I have served in the council’s Cabinet for seven years including being deputy leader of the council. In this role I feel I have been able to promote the issues that you, like me as a local resident, consider are important. That is why Brian, Mike and I were determined to move the outdated Old Town Library into the Arts Centre, providing a thriving community hub that will serve our children, grandchildren and community for many years to come. I have a record of achievement across the ward that I am proud of including important investment in Commonweal, Lethbridge and Churchfields Schools and the small, but important things like restoring and returning ‘Peter Pan’ to the Town Gardens. Challenging: Noel Frank Gardner (UKIP) IN THEIR OWN WORDS: I was born in Highworth but soon afterwards my family moved with me to South London, and that is where I was educated and spent my youth. Since 1970 I have resided within the Swindon borough area, firstly in Wroughton where my family ran a grocery shop and lately since 1987 in Old Town. I see being a councillor as acting as a medium of exchange between local residents and the ruling group of the council. UKIP wants councillors who employ common sense in moulding local decisions, a quality which the party defines in its policy manifestos which would hopefully be appreciated by local voters.

Denis Harrison (Green)

PARTY PROFILE:

Denis came to Swindon in 1975, and instantly loved it, dismissing all the usual put downs of a great place to live. Since then, Swindon has become much larger, encouraged by councils of various hue, and without the infrastructure to accommodate such growth. He became a member of the Green Party in the early 80s, because of environmental degradation, in all the spheres of human activity. He has been a postman for over 23 years and has just retired. Denis wants to see his children and grandchildren grow up in a safe, sustainable environment, and believes that Green Party are the only safe pair of hands we can trust to make that happen.

Cindy Matthews (Labour)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

I am horrified at the way the Conservative council is dismantling frontline services. We are seeing heartless cutting of services that people rely on including buses, libraries, care services, school budgets and care for the young and disadvantaged. I was involved with the campaign last year to save the Okus bus and was moved by the many stories I heard about the personal impact of losing the bus service for residents getting to work and school along with other services in the area, including the health centre. I am opposed to the development at Coate and believe it is vital that we protect Swindon from further encroachment onto our green spaces. We need to have a vision for Swindon that doesn’t just rely on more housing but considers the development of the town as a desirable place to live.

Joan Mortimer (Lib Dems)

PARTY PROFILE:

The Liberal Democrats are the only party to have consistently stood up for the interests of Old Town and Lawn residents. Only the Liberal Democrats stood up against development on Coate and the Front Garden, whilst the Labour government imposed house-building targets and the regional Conservatives decided they should be in Swindon. Now that the coalition has abolished these regional targets the Conservative council still wants to build on Coate. This shows their true colours. The Conservatives are also letting down Old Town and Lawn by blocking Fleming Way to cars so that additional traffic is diverted into an already congested Old Town. The Conservative council have also let down Old Town by allowing a reduction of bus services in Okus, allowing the development at Pipers to dominate the landscape and they have not lead the Locarno development in the way they should.

PARKS

Defending their seat:

Fay Howard (Labour)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

I have worked hard for all Parks residents over the past four years. I am involved in community groups, have dealt with your concerns, and raised issues at the council. If I am elected again I will continue to represent you to the best of my ability and help you with local issues we all care about. My priorities are youth activity and dealing with anti-social behaviour. My priority is potholes not a canal, and a clean and safe Swindon. I hope to continue working in the council with all the political parties for the benefit of all of Swindon. I am passionate about children’s services, schools, play, youth work and also the local community issues that people contact me with about potholes, dog mess, anti- social behaviour etc. I am also a nurse at GWH and a relief warden in a sheltered housing scheme.

Challenging: Graham Cherry (Ind): Mr Cherry was not contactable.

However, he has stood before as a Conservative councillor, but lost Parks in 2010.

Steve Halden (SDP)

PARTY PROFILE:

Steve Halden is standing for the Social Democratic Party. He previously stood as a UKIP parliamentary candidate in Swindon for both general elections in 2005 and 2010. He has lived and worked in Swindon for over 40 years but has now retired. Steve believes that the current economic policies are a plague on the working class. The policies of both Labour and Conservative parties have led to five million people waiting for a council house, and 2.5 million people unemployed in Britain. Steve believes that only policies that return Britain to full employment will help the working class. Britain cannot afford to have 2.5 million people permanently unemployed and claiming benefits.

Terry Hayward (UKIP)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

I have been working in the community for about eight years and sit on lots of committees. I am a member of SWAP which has provided a skateboard park, ball game facilities and a young children’s play area. I don’t think we are getting a fair deal with the humps and the chicanes. It is coming up to seven years since our streets were last swept. I have put forward ways to save money to the sum of £6,660 a week and to have all the streets in Swindon swept every week at no extra cost. Lets start working smart!

David Miles (Green)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS.

As are being forced to pay council tax, we should have dedicated councillors working hard to give us the quality of life we deserve, not bulldozing greenfield sites at Coate to make way for high-priced, luxury housing. The elderly and less well-off should be protected from rising fuel bills by having their homes properly insulated. Our public transport plan needs to be updated, providing more evening and weekend buses so that young people don’t need to rely on parents to shuttle them around. Our money should be spent on our schools, anti-social behaviour, graffiti and vandalism, not on over-inflated pay for councillors.

Catherine Smith (Lib Dem)

PARTY PROFILE:

Catherine has lived in Swindon her whole life. She has been engaged in the community since a young age, taking part in Sixth Sense and rock school youth projects and encouraging political activism at college. Catherine is especially worried about anti-social behaviour in the area. She feels problems by the minority mean the majority do not feel safe, especially older people. Catherine also supports the Swindon Liberal Democrats stance of opposing rent hikes and protecting services for vulnerable children and adults. Catherine is also committed to stopping development on Coate. She lives nearby and knows Coate Water is an important facility for Parks residents. Unwelcome development should not encroach on it.

Tim Swinyard (Conservative)

PARTY PROFILE: Tim Swinyard lives and works in Swindon, and has lived here all his life. He is a primary school governor and has been involved in fundraising for a number of charities. Tim’s priorities for the Parks are to help tackle anti-social behaviour, to deal with litter and to support initiatives such as the Street Watch scheme that is being started by Parks residents. Tim supports the Conservative Council’s decision to freeze council tax this year. He says: “Thanks to our Conservative Council, huge improvements have been made to Cavendish Square but I want to see further progress, with use of the former Cock Robin site as a properly laid out parking area for example. I will work with local police to ensure that anti-social behaviour is tackled swiftly.

PENHILL

Defending their seat:

Paul Baker (Labour)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

My name is Paul John Baker, and I am the Labour councillor for Penhill. I’m married to Laura, and have two children, Emily and Aiden. I live at 14 Milston Avenue, Penhill, and have lived here all my life.

I am standing for local election because I believe that the people of Penhill need a voice, and that voice should be somebody who lives with the same problems as they do. Being local, I know and understand the dynamics of the area, and can appreciate what other people are feeling in their everyday lives and problems. I have worked hard, not only to highlight the positives of Penhill but to help the people within an estate I’m immensely proud to be part of.

Another reason is that I want the people of Penhill to benefit from changes in the local area, as opposed to the cuts that have recently been imposed on our community. I understand that I cannot work miracles, but I can surely try.

Caroline Dollery (Ind)

Was unable to be contacted.

There are no details on her or what she stands for.

Jaki Dawn Fairbrother (Con)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

I will be a fresh start for Penhill, and will be a real champion for local residents, working all year round to be a highly visible and approachable councillor. My experience as a solicitor will be invaluable in helping assist local residents with their individual issues. I am delighted that the Conservatives have frozen council tax this year and will continue to push for a fair and affordable council tax for everyone. I will be a strong defender of vital local services and facilities such as the Penhill Library, which the Conservative council continues to invest in. I also support the continued investment in our play areas and open spaces for young families and people of all ages to enjoy. Tackling litter, graffiti and vandalism must be stepped up, alongside a zero tolerance to anti-social behaviour. I believe we should take pride in our town and country and actively support both St George’s Day (April 23) and Armed Forces Day (25 June).

Trevor Smith (Lib Dem)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

I am a former councillor who was tackled many issues in the past, including securing funding for youth provision and the improvement of social housing. I have also dealt with residents’ problems for my four years in office, during which time I had an attendance rate of 100% at council meetings. In Penhill we need a youth centre in the ward to provide somewhere safe for our kids to go, rather than having to hang around on the streets. Where I used to be a councillor I got a youth centre for my area, so have the experience that Penhill needs. Penhill has a strong voice in Liberal Democrat councillor Andy Harrison, who attends meetings and speaks up for Penhill. I will be another strong voice for Penhill. I live in Swindon with her and my five year old step daughter. I work in education and training and I am also drive time presenter and football presenter for Swindon 105.5, which is a community radio station here in Swindon.

SHAE AND NINE ELMS

Defending their seat:

Garry Perkins (Con)

PARTY PROFILE:

Garry Perkins has represented Shaw & Nine Elms since 2003. As the former Cabinet Member for Children’s Services he was responsible for the building of many of Swindon’s new schools. He is now deputy leader of the council and is planning Swindon’s economic future. He was a key player in building the new Shaw Ridge School and opening Saltway playing fields for public use. Garry is working hard to attract shops like John Lewis to Swindon and has cut the cost of car parking in the town centre. If re-elected Garry pledges to: Continue to oppose development plans for 3,500 houses in Wiltshire but adjacent to Sparcells and Peatmoor; campaign to bring more jobs to Swindon especially for young people; work with the police to make Shaw & Nine Elms a very safe place to live; bring a real steam railway to Mouldon Hill Park and rebuild Sparcells Station; keep council tax at an affordable level, maybe freezing it for a second year.

Challenging: James Farr (Lib Dem)

PARTY PROFILE:

James is 39 and has lived in the ward in Middleleaze since 1995. James and Anita have a four-and-a-half-year-old year old daughter. James feels the local problems in West Swindon are not being addressed by the Council. Dog bins are over-flowing, litter is left to pile up and hedgerows are not being cut often enough. Some of our shopping centres are suffering from anti-social behaviour and criminal damage. Pot holes and damaged pavements are often not being repaired, or not properly repaired. Our recycling centre is not being emptied often enough, meaning local residents who want to recycle are having to dump bags there. I also object to the proposed housing developments that would place massive pressure on our roads and infrastructure that have been proposed by Wiltshire Council. Conservative-run Swindon Borough Council are claiming it’s nothing to do with them, but it’s Conservative-run Wiltshire Council who are proposing the development. The Conservatives are letting our area down.

Bob Feal-Martinez (UKIP)

IN HIS OWN WORDS:

As chairman of UKIP Swindon I believe that our town would be better served by a party who genuinely believes in the concept of localism, and we have been advocating this for a number of years and long before any of the main parties. Indeed we have seen the coalition shamelessly copying UKIP’s policies in the last few months. I am standing for election in Shaw and Nine Elms because I believe the views of the local residents have been ignored by their sitting councillors, who have presided over a shameful waste of tax payers money, most notably the wi-fi mesh project.

Mike Heal (Labour)

IN HIS OWN WORDS:

As a man with a young family, the community sprit in Shaw is important to me and my family. Having said this I am aware of the concerns of many Shaw and Nine Elms residents around the state of the cycle paths and the graffiti. Things that concern me are the lack of youth opportunity and community facilities there are. The lack of youth club facilities means the there is a gathering outside the shops. I want to see a community centre in Shaw that not only offers youth club facilities but also a place where are elderly can go enjoy a coffee and take up the opportunity of interacting with our younger residents with the added option of learning IT skills. My confinement to a wheelchair might cause a few restrictions but, as a disabled person I am aware of the major concerns both for the elderly and disabled with the cuts in homecare, for young parents and to SureStart.

ST MARGARET

Defending their seat:

Russell Holland (Conservative)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

I work very hard to represent residents, by being a strong voice in council meetings, holding regular surgeries and delivering newsletters. As a councillor I have never claimed a penny in expenses. Following my long running campaign, Stratton Parish Council has finally put in the effort to reduce the Stratton Parish precept. On planning issues, I have worked hard to campaign against Labour’s plan to build 12,000 houses to the east of the A419. I have worked closely with Justin Tomlinson MP, and I am pleased that the new proposal has reduced the number to 7,500 houses in village-style developments. I will continue to campaign against inappropriate building plans and do everything I can to ensure high quality developments. I also helped lead the campaign against the wind turbines at Honda. Challenging: Nigel Peter Chalk (Labour): IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Stratton deserves more attention from the borough council. Many side streets look like patchwork quilts with unfilled potholes, and some of the parks and paths badly need maintenance. I have been a parish councillor for the last 12 months and helped select and install the new play area at Delamere Drive, and plant several areas with bulbs. My priorities for Lower Stratton are to: Ensure local developer contributions are spent in the ward and not elsewhere in Swindon; extend 20mph zones into estates; improve road and path maintenance and safety; push for more designated ‘green spaces’; reduce rat runs and the number of lorries using shortcuts; push to maintain local services including libraries; improve cycle routes in Swindon and limit the use of pavements by cyclists; improve facilities for children and youth.

Deborah King (Lib Dem)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

Debbie lives in Swindon with her husband Geoff and works part time as a marriage registrar in Wiltshire. She is a volunteer with Prospect. Formerly a civil servant, Debbie was also a Lib Dem councillor in West Berkshire. Debbie said: “Swindon has a great voluntary tradition and the council should build on this and empower local people to make the decisions that are right for our communities. We want to attract businesses to Swindon, and keep them. To do that we need to protect our environment and especially our green spaces for families to enjoy.”

Margaret Phillis Thompson-Watt (UKIP)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

I have lived in Swindon for many years. My main concern is the amount of taxpayers’ money that is wasted by the local council, ie. the water feature in Canal Walk, I feel the money could be better spent for the residents of Swindon such as helping keep the Oasis in good condition, which I understand is used by a great many people.