SWINDON ELECTIONS: Profile of candidates

ST PHILIP

Defending their seat: Paul Findlow (Conservative)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

I am a strong voice on council committees and have never claimed a penny in expenses. I have also helped residents on a variety of issues and have met a lot of people through our regular council surgeries and delivering newsletters. One of my main achievements is working with my fellow Conservative councillors to secure a freeze in council tax. On planning issues, I have worked hard to stop the Cloche Way development going ahead. I also campaigned against the wind turbines at Honda. I managed to get the proposal to build 91 houses on the Zarlink site in Hyde Road deferred, and will fight to get it overturned. Residents will be aware of the planning application to build on the Headlands site and I will fight to stop this. I am a strong defender of local services and facilities such as the Upper Stratton library and the Kingsdown Youth centre. I am also a participant on the Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee, and I am campaigning to ensure that Swindon gets the radiotherapy centre it deserves.

Challenging:

Ann Richards (Lib Dem)

PARTY PROFILE:

Ann is retired and has lived in Swindon for 39 years. She believes the borough should listen to people’s views especially as expressed by the parish council which is the first tier of local government and so knows the area and its needs and which is proactive in providing many services that would have to be provided by Swindon Borough Council (or not at all). In particular the people of Stratton would like to see 106 money from large developments in their area coming to them and do not want to see all their green spaces built over. The Lib Dems is the party that listens to the views of local residents.

Peter Thompson-Watt (UKIP)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

I have lived in Swindon for many years. The way the council runs the services in Swindon is disgraceful, the town centre Regeneration is slow and laborious. There are too many green spaces being used for housing, which I feel we do not need, children's playing fields are being taken for housing, and councillors wages and expenses are too excessive.

Joe Tray (Labour)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

I have lived in Upper Stratton for 32 years and feel proud to have been selected as Labour candidate. St Philip has been neglected by the Conservative-controlled council, with most developer contributions being spent elsewhere in Swindon. When I first moved to the area it had the feel of a small but friendly community. I will fight to protect this community spirit. My pledges are for a full traffic survey and a plan for road repairs and improvement, an open-space strategy which protects the remaining areas of green, enhancement of services for the young and the elderly in Upper Stratton, protection for the local library and the introduction of a “Community Payback” scheme to give residents a say in the punishment for anti-social behaviour.

TOOTHILL AND WESTLEA

Defending their seat: Steve Wakefield (Labour)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

During my eight years as Councillor for Toothill and Westlea I have always put its interests first. Some people today won’t stand up for what they believe in, but I do!

As a straight-talking no nonsense individual I do not beat about the bush when it comes to getting things done for people. When money is tight people want the essential services maintained like having their bins emptied, their grass cut, fly tipping dealt with and graffiti removed. Not having their taxes mismanaged or wasted on political dreams like wi-fi or fountains. They want their schools and care services to be controlled by people they elect, that they can hold accountable and not offshore private companies and shareholders. Local councils are about service and not making profits. I want the council to cut its bureaucracy and just do the job people elect it to do.

Daniel Matthew Bissex (Conservative)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

I have been a Toothill resident all my life and have seen a huge improvement to Toothill and Westlea since the Conservatives took control of Swindon. New classrooms have been built at Westlea Primary School and a new school at Toothill. Westlea Playground is fabulous, the playground at The Chesters is exciting and Shelfinch playground in Toothill is being upgraded. Better policing has cut crime and councillors and the community meet the police to agree objectives.

If elected I promise to campaign to bring more jobs to Swindon especially for young people. Work with the police to make Toothill and Westlea a very safe place to live. Campaign for a zebra crossing outside Toothill School. Open the library six days a week. I believe this can be achieved at no extra cost.

Marilyn Harrison (Green)

PARTY PROFILE:

Born in Swindon in 1954, Marilyn has lived here all her life. She raised four children and has five grandchildren, plus one on the way. She worked at Westlea School as a teaching assistant for more than 19 years before moving to Toothill School. Marilyn is concerned about the effects the cuts are going to have on vulnerable people, and is passionate about keeping Swindon’s green places. She wants to live in a thriving, progressive town, but feels there is a need to keep Swindon at a level that is sustainable. She has been a member of the Green Party for more than 20 years and is an active campaigner for human rights, animal welfare and environmental concerns.

Tiffany Pomagalski (UKIP)

In their own words: I’m finishing at New College this year. I am a Christian and have lived in Swindon all my life.

My parents introduced me to UKIP and I was then won over by their common sense and straight-forward policies which would enable us to govern ourselves not just nationally but locally.

Chris Shepherd (Lib Dem)

Party profile:

Chris has lived in Swindon for 10 years and was a West Swindon councillor for four years.

Toothill and Westlea has been badly let down by the council under both Conservative and Labour councillors. Issues including anti-social behaviour, leading to older people being increasingly scared; walls, fences and trees being damaged. The area is not being properly looked after, there are delays in council property repairs.

Our area is blighted by parking problems, parking on grass verges, dog fouling and fly tipping. It’s time to give someone else a chance to sort out these problems.

WALCOT

Defending their seat:

Peter Mallinson (Conservative)

IN their OWN WORDS:

I have worked in Walcot as your councillor four to five days a week for six years, helping local people. My base has been the charity shop in Sussex Square that gives grants to local individuals, groups, organisations and schools. By combining the shop with the library I saved the local library from closure. I hold my surgeries in the library. When I am asked to help with a problem I deal with it while the person is with me. I saved the Dome from financial problems by securing a large grant from the Regeneration Company while I was the chairman of that company. If elected I will continue to work as hard as I have done in the past both in Walcot and the borough.

Challenging:

Kathy McCarthy (Lib Dem)

PARTY PROFILE:

Kathy is retired and has lived in Walcot for nearly 40 years. She is concerned there are no community facilities in Old Walcot for older people and the wider population to enjoy.

Kathy is also concerned about anti-social behaviour in New Walcot, and supported the Liberal Democrats in opposing local rent hikes.

She would also like to do more about parking on verges and football parking in the area. Kathy believes in a different type of politics. A type of politics where residents are at the centre of decision-making. Power should be brought down to the lowest possible level, where people are trusted to make decisions that affect their lives. It’s the ordinary people of Swindon who know best what our town needs.

Jenni Miles (Green)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

I have been happily married for ten years and have five children. I work part time for the National Green Party and run a financial consultancy business with my husband.

I have been a chair of a local pre-school, school governor and am active with Swindon Animal Concern and Swindon Climate Action Network.

I have chosen to stand in this election as I am passionately against the development at Coate. If elected I would fight the cuts proposals which affect the poorest or most vulnerable in our society.

Ellen Osa (Labour)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

I have lived in Swindon for 10 years. After graduation in Liberia I left to further my education in the Netherlands and England.

I run my own business in Swindon. I am Chair of two voluntary organisations, an active member of other voluntary groups in Swindon and currently study at Oxford Brookes University. My passion for education, community work and bringing together a cohesive society of people from different backgrounds will form the foundation of my approach to representing the residents of Walcot. In Walcot we need to need to tackle anti-social behaviour across the ward, support regeneration of Sussex Square and defend the vulnerable from reductions in their care and services.

I am particularly concerned for the future prospects of the young people of Swindon with cuts to EMA, increasing tuition fees and reductions in funding of Sure Start centres.

WESTERN

Defending their seat:

Des Moffatt (Labour)

PARTY PROFILE:

Des has lived in the Ferndale Road area of Swindon for 40 years. His three children were educated in local schools. He worked in the same job on Cheney Manor trading estate for 40 years and was active in the union and the community for most of his life He is a very experienced councillor and for many years was chair of Housing and Health on Thamesdown Borough Council.

He helped in the campaign to save the Even Swindon library and came up with the plan that works.

He wants to continue the campaign to get the northern relief road built so that traffic is taken off Cheney Manor Road and to get a better solution to the changes to Whale Bridge roundabout.

If elected he will insist that those in need are not left to their fate and that the council works with agencies to deliver essential services to all Swindon citizens.

He will support Swindon Dial a Ride and Swindon Commercial Services to ensure genuine competition for the private sector without compromising quality of service.

Challenging:

John Christopher Haines (Conservative)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

I will be a fresh start for Western ward, and have the energy, enthusiasm and determination to make a real difference to the local community. As an engineer I will support the expansion of apprenticeship and work-based learning, helping equip the next generation of workers with real-life skills.

I will be a strong defender of local services such as the Even Swindon community centre and library.

I also support the continued investment in our play areas and open spaces for young families and people of all ages to enjoy.

I support the Conservatives’ decision to freeze council tax and to put every effort into securing the much needed town centre regeneration, supported by the cut in car-parking charges.

Greg Heathcliffe (UKIP)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

The reason that I am standing for the post of UKIP councillor is because I find it hard to believe that the run-down of Swindon over the last 15 years has not been, in large part, engineered by the main political parties.

We are the only major political party to put Britain and the interests of the British people first, be it at international, national or local level.

As a party we understand the need for you, the people, to have your voice heard in the council concerning what it does and how it spends your money.

UKIP does not hold with secret deals and, as a councillor I will truthfully respond to any reasonable request from you, the voter, for information. As your councillor I will serve my ward to the best of my ability.

Geoffrey King (Lib Dem)

PARTY PROFILE:

Geoff was born and brought up in Swindon. He is married with two grown up daughters, and now teaches undergraduates in management at the University of the West England.

He say: “I am amazed how the Tory council continues to waste our money. They are still replacing perfectly OK pedestrian crossing lights, while privatising social care, and cutting services vital to the most vulnerable in our communities. I have asked the council to explain their bizarre priorities, but have received no satisfactory answer.

Our council should be concentrating on our long-standing social, employment and infrastructure problems in the central areas of our town; less distraction with out of town developments such as the massive and unwanted housing proposals for Coate Water. ”

WROUGHTON AND CHISELDON

Standing down:

William Morton (Conservative) Challenging: Susan Rachel Cassell (UKIP)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

I have a Masters Degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University and have worked in the private and voluntary sector since 1987. I have lived and worked in Swindon since 2007. As a councillor, I would aim to ensure Swindon Borough Council spends its residents’ council tax wisely and effectively, and in accordance with long-term sustainable principles. I would hold the council to account on environmental matters.

Wayne Lawrence Crabbe (Conservative) IN THEIR OWN WORDS I am looking forward to addressing issues such as concerns over protecting the areas of natural beauty in the ward, and our separation from Swindon. Other concerns of local residents include: Bus services during evenings and directly to the hospital, dedicated cycleways, worry about crime and the continued expansion of Swindon with its impact on our local communities. Another particular concern to Wroughton residents is the traffic light system at the High Street/Wharf Road junction, with its confusing diagonal pedestrian crossing, which fills me with anxiety whenever I see elderly people or children using it.

Geraint Day (Labour)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

I am a member of the Labour Party and the Co-operative Party.

These have been in continuous coalition since 1927 – unlike the less than a year old collaboration between Liberal Democrats and Conservatives.

Britain has 1,000 Labour and Co-operative councillors.

I was a Thamesdown Borough Councillor and vice chair of community planning. Building communities didn’t start with the “Big Society.” The co-operative sector has done it for 160 years. It runs shops, like the supermarket in Wroughton. It is active in farming, credit unions and democratically accountable enterprises run with a social conscience.

Local Borough Council services cuts and charge increases are caused by the Conservative and Liberal Democrats nationally. Fact.

We see neglected roads. The 30 pence charge to reserve a library book is unfair to users of branch libraries in particular.

If unchecked the Conservative Council will oversee the end of meaningful public services across the borough within a few years.

Victor Godman (Lib Dem) PARTY PROFILE: Victor is 67, works at Nationwide and lives in Wroughton.

His priorities for the villages include bus services, the bulldozing of the Front Garden and Coate and the upsurge in anti-social behaviour Victor believes Wroughton and Chiseldon deserve truly local representation. He is worried that the Conservatives that run the Borough Council want to expand southward with no consideration about the impact on our villages.

Wroughton and Chiseldon needs a local councillor that looks after residents first and foremost.

Victor’s interests including working at the local allotment and being a Methodist Church steward.

Paul Hurst (Ind)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

I have lived in Wroughton since 1990. I value the village and its community spirit. I have been involved in many village events and became a parish councillor in 2007.

I support the Save Coate Campaign and will continue to oppose greenfield development. I will fight to retain our villages’ identities and work to maintain and improve Borough Service Levels. Wroughton Parish created a Youth Club in 2010. Recent Borough cuts have endangered its existence. Youth remains our future; we need to provide facilities and personnel to aid their development and involvement in our communities. National Government advocates the “Big Society and Localism”. Surely this means empowering communities like Wroughton and Chiseldon to have decision making rights in what happens in this rural settlement.