There will be elections for Stone Town Council on 7th May (as well as the General Election and Stafford Borough Council elections). These are the 13 candidates standing for election in the Stone Town Council Stonefield & Christchurch ward. Of the 13 candidates in this ward, FIVE will be elected to sit on the town council.
As well as the personal addresses below, you can see party manifesto pledges for the town council elections by clicking the links below:
[button color=”black” size=”small” link=”https://alittlebitofstone.com/2015/04/27/town-council-election-stone-independents-pledges/” target=”blank” ]Stone Independents manifesto pledges[/button]
[button color=”black” size=”small” link=”https://alittlebitofstone.com/2015/04/27/stone-town-council-election-conservative-manifesto/” target=”blank” ]Stone Conservatives town council manifesto pledges[/button]
[divider]
Lynne Bakker-Collier (Conservative)
I intend to be your available listening ear and have already noted the concerns of my electorate. If elected I will do my utmost to resolve your problems. I am currently an active Stafford Borough Councillor.
My family and I arrived at Midfield Nursery & Florist in 1969. My father Hilko Bakker was a Dutch horticulturalist considered to be a pillar of the community and together with my mother managed the nursery. Shortly after purchasing the property I also became a partner. Thankfully I have inherited their moral values, passion for life and a determination to achieve fairness for all members of society. I care deeply about conservation issues, thus for many years I have been a trustee of Downs Banks and Stone Common Plot. It is my personal goal to ensure that both of these venues continue as valuable educational resources which must be nurtured and preserved for future generations.
I am involved in voluntary work across all ages within my community; from children’s holiday clubs to Age Concern Stone & District and nationally with Guide Dogs for the Blind. I am a professional Dog Trainer and Animal Behaviourist. In recent years I have been awarded a National Volunteers award for my innovative leadership of the Stone Guide Dog branch. I am also a speaker and speaker trainer for guide dogs.
I am well known for my determination and capability for seeing projects through to a conclusion. Stone residents are well known for their good judgment it will be an honour for me to serve my community. I ask you to support me on May 7th.
[divider]
Gary Barr (Stone Independents)
Gary has lived in Staffordshire for 23 years and in the Stonefield ward for the past 15 years. He is Managing Director of a successful medium sized food business supplying the major supermarket chains.
Having chosen to live in Stone, Gary is passionate about preserving the unique feel of the town. He believes that this requires the active support of the town council so that the town can developed in order to attract new retail businesses and to help them establish and thrive. A diverse shopping experience will provide jobs and encourage visitors.
He says: “Stone is a good place to live. With some creative thinking and energy, it could be a great place to live.’’
[divider]
Geoff Collier (Conservative)
I have lived in and around Stone Town all my life. I was educated in Stone and have worked in Stone for 50 years. I have run my own business for 40 years and for the last 30 years have been proprietor of Stonefield Garage. I love my town and have had the pleasure and privilege of serving the town as both a Town and Borough Councillor.
Eleven years ago I was privileged to be elected as Stone Town Mayor and together with my wife Cathy we were introduced to all the voluntary organisations and groups in the town. This gave me an opportunity to promote and assist these hard working and dedicated groups of individuals to achieve some of their goals.
As a member of the Planning committee, I have endeavoured to restrain overdevelopment in Stone, although this has sometimes been overruled by National Government Policies. I have been an active member of Stone in Bloom, helping to ensure Stone remains a beautiful place to both live and work.
The new combined St Michael’s & Stonefield Ward has a wide spectrum of residents, High Street and industry which offer me a great opportunity as a councillor. The extra housing which we are forced to accept add great pressure on infrastructure and traffic flow – I will endeavour to find solutions. During my last term I achieved the removal of the Priory Road garages which have been replaced by a social housing unit. I fought for a new aviary in Stonefield Park and for the green recreational area to be retained at Westbridge Park. I hope to carry on my work and achieve much more with your support on May 7th.
[divider]
Joyce Farnham (Conservative)
I have lived in Stone for 58 years with my late husband Dr Barry Farnham and my son Christopher also now a consultant who lives in Kent. I have had the privilege of representing Stone on both the Town and Borough Councils since 1987 having been Mayor twice for the Town and once as Mayor of Stafford Borough.
I am president of Stone Women’s branch of the Royal British Legion and also of the Stroke Club and the Alzheimer’s Club. Additionally I am a past Magistrate with 25 years service and was chairman of Drake Hall Prison board of visitors.
Over the years I hope I have played some part in the furtherance of our Town as a place where everybody wants to live, not least because of the great spirit of community which is so apparent but also in our achievements. I have been a Stone Councillor because I have tried and if elected, will continue to do all within my power to fight for Stone, and my electors; but I will strive to do my best to help any constituent and represent them to the very best of my ability.
May I count on your support as your Conservative candidate.
[divider]
Graham Finlay (Conservative)
I have lived in and near Stone since I began working at Alleyne’s High School in 1977 and have lived in Newcastle Road for the last twenty-one years. I have, I hope, become a full member of the Stone community. I have spent 38 years teaching History at Alleyne’s and have certainly had an impact on the town through its young people. Whilst at Alleyne’s I took many hundreds of youngsters through the experience of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award making a further contribution to the development of young people in Stone.
I have always had my feet firmly placed in the community: I am treasurer of the Stone Stroke Club, I am a volunteer driver for the Green Bus and support my wife with the Stone Branch of the British Heart Foundation. I am also treasurer of the Stone and District Dominoes League and President of the Stone and District Cribbage League.
Being your representative on Stone Town Council would widen my involvement in the community’s affairs and bring my wide and deep knowledge of the people and the town to bear on its future development. I want to maintain the efficient management of the town’s resources and ensure that the budget is spent wisely to offer the best opportunities and facilities to all in Stone. I want to see the Town Council continue to promote Stone, whilst ensuring that expansion is well-balanced and in the best interests of the town.
[divider]
Ian Fordham (Stone Independents)
Ian lives in Stonefield ward, having moved to Stone 18 years ago with his wife and two daughters. He is a retired company director, a trustee of a local charity and active within his local residents’ association. He is a qualified sports coach and continues to work with young children helping them acquire new skills.
Ian believes that Stone is a special place to live and that its location alongside canal, river and parkland and the heritage of its High Street make it unique. He believes that with vision and energy the town can attract investment that would make a real and positive difference to the entire community.
Ian says: “Stone Independents have the ideas and determination to deliver the best for the town. With your advice and support we will do exactly that.”
[divider]
Mark Hatton (Liberal Democrats)
[divider]
Tom Kelt (Stone Independents)
Tom has lived in Stone for 40 years working in the potteries and then for the NHS until his retirement. He now divides his time between family, allotment and choir and enjoys walking and music.
He loves the mixture of town and countryside that Stone offers and its accessibility. He feels passionately that Stone residents deserve a great place to live, work, shop and enjoy themselves within their own community.
Tom says: “I believe that local politicians should listen to what people say and should work to deliver what the local community needs, rather than slavishly following national party lines.”
[divider]
Rob Kenney (Stone Independents)
Rob was born in Stone and has lived in the Stonefield Ward for the last 30 years. He represents the Ward on Stone Town Council and has previously served as Stone Town Mayor.
Rob has considerable knowledge of planning issues having spent most of his life working in the construction industry overseeing aspects of many large projects such as hospitals and prisons. He now helps his wife to run a successful bakery based in the Town.
Rob has developed a great passion for the Town and believes it needs hard work and effective promotion.
He says: “The current council has delayed developing a ‘neighbourhood plan’ thereby allowing developers to propose large housing developments. Stone Independents will act quickly to develop a plan and restrict new development.”
[divider]
Philip Leason (Stone Independents)
Phillip is a native of Stone and is married and lives in the Stonefield Ward on the Whitebridge Estate. He also has a wide knowledge of Stone and its history and writes the popular Stone history columns in the local press.
Phillip is a current Independent borough councillor and has also served on the Stone town council. His experience has provided him with a thorough knowledge of the Ward and the problems which the electorate face.
He says: “I look forward to serving the people rather than a political party and judging every issue on its merits, not just to support a political doctrine.”
[divider]
Trevor Mardling (Conservative)
I was born and educated in Stoke on Trent attending Hanley High School. I moved to Stone when I married my wife Helen in 1970 and we have lived in Stone from that time.
I qualified as a Solicitor in 1969 and originally practised in Hanley but I was persuaded to join Kenneth Crick at 51 High Street, Stone which I did in 1976. It was a very successful practice form which I retired in 2012. During my years there I had the pleasure of acting for and meeting many people in the lovely market town of Stone. I am fully aware of the present concerns of many people in the town.
I have been actively involved in many organisations and charities in Stone which I believe are the backbone of the wonderful community in Stone. I believe that we need to try to regenerate trade and business within the town and to continue to increase the community spirit.
I hope that you will support me.
[divider]
Mike Osborne-Town (Labour)
Unlike many of the other candidates, I’m new to politics. I have only recently joined the Labour Party and have never tried to become a councillor before. Although this might seem like a disadvantage to some, I am hoping that I can bring a fresh voice and some new ideas to the Council. I was disappointed to see how few Labour councillors there are currently. I think we need a better balance of opinions on the Council, including from democratic socialists like me.
However, I’m not new to Stone. I’ve lived in the town for almost 30 years and my sons were educated at Alleyne’s. I use all of Stone’s facilities, from Westbridge Sports Centre, to the pubs, shops and restaurants. I use the roads (and get stuck in the town centre and A34 traffic queues). I appreciate the green spaces, the parks, the Common Plot and the Downs Banks. The environment is crucially important to our future. I know it is particularly important to young people and I would want to represent their opinions on “Green” issues, from recycling to pollution. I’ve worked with young people for most of my life, including as a Headteacher of two large secondary schools, and I’m also a governor at two local schools. Having a bit more time now, I want to give something back to the community.
I’m standing for Labour because I believe it’s the party that represents the broadest range of people, from the poor and vulnerable, to the educated and more wealthy. I believe in equality and fairness – 2 values that don’t seem important to the present government. If elected, I will base my contributions on such values.
There are several local issues which I would want to try to influence. One relates to Stone town centre. I would want to do what I could to find ways of getting small businesses into the empty high street shops. I would support the Farmers’ Market, the Food and Drink Festival, Stone in Bloom and the Best Kept Town competition and Stone Festival. I would want to ensure that the town was kept looking attractive, litter free and welcoming. I would support the development of facilities and initiatives for children and young people including sports facilities, playgrounds and youth clubs. Equally I would work for senior citizens. Stone has a significant proportion of its population in this age group and I feel that they are neglected. They make tremendous contributions to Stone, for example through voluntary work, charities and the University of the Third Age (U3A) and they deserve to be listened to. We must make sure all age groups are catered for and equally valued.
Let’s have a Council that represents all groups and opinions and leads to a more compassionate society. That means a few more Labour councillors than we have at the moment.
[divider]
Peter Young (Labour)
I was born and raised in Stone, where I attended Manor Hill Primary, Walton Middle School and Alleyne’s High School. I later studied at Sheffield and Birmingham Universities then qualified as a teacher, working in London for seven years at a large inner-city comprehensive school. Whilst there, I rose to Head of Year, before returning to live in Stone and take a senior teaching post at a Community High School in Newcastle-under-Lyme. I believe the friendly and vibrant nature of Stone community is a great asset and deserves to be maintained and protected against the continual development of housing and loss of amenities.
As a teacher, I have lead a number of initiatives aimed at raising the learning opportunities and career aspirations of young people in the wider area, such as extended schools provision, School Council co-ordination and ‘Gifted and Talented’ activities for both Primary and High School pupils. Also I have experience as both an active school Governor and NUT representative, and have given my time to lead the PTFA and School Council.
I was previously a co-opted Labour Party Stone Town Councillor for the Walton Ward. In my short time as Town Councillor, I have shown my support of the young people of Stone by becoming a representative on a number of Youth projects. I have been an active volunteer in a number of Stone initiatives to promote both increased business and tourism, including both the Stone Food and Drink Festival and the Stone Music Festival, as I believe in promoting Stone as an excellent trading and tourism base, while seeking to restrict unnecessary developments. I am a long standing Co-operative Party member, who supports co-operative initiatives such as shared use facilities and Credit Unions.
I wish not only to represent a fresh new approach, but am also dedicated to improving the facilities and opportunities for all, such as those who feel vulnerable and marginalized, including the young people of Stone, and am committed to this aim.
