Stone Town Council elections – St Michael’s ward candidates

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 10 candidates standing for election in the Stone Town Council St Michael’s ward. Of the 10 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]

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Cathy Collier (Conservative)

I have lived in North Staffordshire for all my 62 years, the first 25 of them in Leek and the remainder just outside Stone. I am married and have two grown up sons, my husband Geoff has had a business in Stone for 40 years, which I help him to run.

I have been a member of Stone in Bloom for the last 11 years and it has been a delight to work alongside the community to make Stone a pleasant and prettier place in which to live and work. I am District Commissioner of Stone Girl Guiding and have recently opened a new 5th Stone Rainbow unit at Westbridge Park to ensure the young in Stone have the chance of enjoying the opportunities provided.

As a recently retired employee of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, I am well aware of the difficult decisions which have to be made and as Conservatives, we need to ensure that Stone Town Council spends your money wisely. I am very conscious of the issues affecting the old and the young and, as Stone Town Mayor 2014/2015, I have been amazed at all the voluntary organisations who support them all and I will continue to help them all I can. We need to ensure there are adequate facilities to provide for them. The youngsters of today are our citizens of tomorrow and we need to encourage them.

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Jim Davies (Stone Independents)

Jim and his wife Lin settled in the Stone area in 1992. He retired as a Squadron Leader after 27 years in the RAF, after which he became the IT Coordinator for the Stoke Director of Education, then a senior manager for a national logistics company before, in 2005, establishing his own successful business consultancy.

Jim is active in St Saviour’s Church, Aston-by-Stone, was Chairman of the Stone Choral Society from 2011 to 2014 and has been President of the Stone Branch of RAFA since 1997.

He says: “I want people to have a chance to elect capable town councillors who have no conflict between the good of the town and any national party loyalties.”

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Lin Davies (Stone Independents)

Lin represented St Michael’s ward on Stone Town Council from 2000 until 2011 and on Stafford Borough Council from 2007 to 2011. In 2003/4 she had the honour to be Town Mayor.

Lin, and her husband, Jim, settled in the Stone area in 1992 towards the end of Jim’s 27 years’ service in the RAF.

Lin has long been actively involved in local organisations, particularly in the area of welfare and has spoken up fearlessly for the people she represents.

She says: “I believe in integrity and honesty in politics. I want the people of Stone to have a chance to elect effective town councillors who are all capable of working together for the good of the town.”

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Jacki Hampson (Conservative)

I have lived locally for over 40 years with my husband David. I have three children and two wonderful grandsons. I was a school governor for many years and then was appointed Chair; I held this position for 10 years.

I have also been involved with Stone Outward Guides and helped at a Rainbow guide pack for 10 years. I have always been interested in young people, they are our future and I believe it is our job to encourage and nurture them.

I am also interested in our High Street. Our shops are at the heart of our community and I would encourage and help in any way I could to make them thrive.

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Tom Jackson (Conservative)

Let me introduce myself – I was born in Stone some 60 years ago. In that time I married my wife Jane, bought up two children and continually lived within the local area.

My working life has consisted of serving 15 years in the Royal Navy as a Electrical Engineer, as a Maintenance Manage for Royal Doulton China and more recently as Police Officer in Staffordshire and currently in a Police Staff role.

As an elected town Councillor from the previous election in 2011, I am again asking you for your support. At that time I said it was time to give something back to the town of Stone, the people of Stone and in particular those residents of St Michael’s ward, regardless of any political persuasion.

I have done my upmost in working towards, and in many cases reaching that aspiration. And yes this includes calling upon the assistance of both Borough and County Councillors.

For example:

• Supporting the Aston Lodge action group when fighting to stop the building of wind turbines, although to date, we still await a final decision from London
• By creating a better flow of traffic through an already very busy Stone town centre
• Developing and promoting varied social events within the Town centre
• Responding to local residents’ concerns that have included the completion of necessary road repairs, improved maintenance of overgrown hedgerows / gardens, the provision of additional dog bins, and the completion of important repairs in the high street.

I have done this whilst maintaining a high level of integrity, responsibility and most importantly ensuring that I have been accessible to those people who have required my assistance as a member of your local Council.

To this end I will, with your support, continue to work with enthusiasm and determination to meet the expectations you quite rightly expect from me as your local councillor.

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Philip Jones (Conservative)

I have had the privilege to represent you on Stone Town Council for the past 4 years. Together with my colleague Tom Jackson we worked with the Action Group and, after a long struggle, finally persuaded the planning authority to refuse permission for the Aston Lodge windfarm. Let us all hope that the Minister will not reverse this result founded on a close relationship between Councillors and those they represent. Renewable energy is important but proper and sympathetic location is paramount. I have and will continue to oppose the plan to build houses on the green land off Uttoxeter Road. I arranged for the “20 is plenty” signs and markings on Lichfield Road.

Despite pressure from our opponents we have restrained spending by the Council and kept our promise not to increase your Council Tax.

I have lived in Stone with my wide Morag for over 40 years. Our three children were educated at local schools. I have been a school governor at St Michaels and at Alleynes and I continue as a governor at Stafford College. Education opens the door to success in life and I will always support our schools and encourage them to do their very best for our children.

I work in Stoke but am always glad to come home to Stone. With your help I will work to keep Stone as our distinctive and pleasant market town. I hope that you will give me your support.

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Elaine Mowatt (Stone Independents)

Elaine has lived in Stone since 1980 and her three sons were educated at Alleyne’s School. She has worked as a radiographer in the NHS for 40 years before taking semi-retirement in December, 2014. She now feels that she has the time to involve herself more in the local community.

Elaine says: “I have always enjoyed living in Stone. It has a great deal going for it already, but I would like to help local people make it the best it can possibly be.”

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Andy Osgathorpe (Stone Independents)

Andy is a retired school teacher who worked for many years at Alleyne’s. He has worked and played in Stone for nearly 40 years and he is concerned and saddened by the lack of investment and strategic thinking in the Town.

He was actively involved with the pressure group working against the loss of Westbridge Park to commercial development.

Andy says: “I want to make a real and positive difference for the people of Stone and believe this can only be achieved through a stand as an Independent who puts the town first.”

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Allan Skerratt (Stone Independents)

Allan has lived in or around Stone for most of his life and has worked in Education as a Science teacher and Head of Department at a local school. He believes that Stone is an attractive town that offers leisure activities, easy access to beautiful countryside and a thriving business sector.

He worked to retain the green space on Westbridge Park and supports improved leisure facilities there. He believes in the need for a ‘neighbourhood plan’ to help control new development.

Allan says: “I feel pride in the achievements and community spirit of the town. I am not a member of a political party and my aim as a councillor would be to work with the local community listening to their wishes and concerns so that as part of Stone Independents I can put Stone first, work for the town, and take it forward.”

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Ann Tomlinson (Conservative)

For the people who may not know me, I was born in Stone. Apart from the time that I spent away at school and college I have lived here in Stone all my life. I am a blind person with a guide dog called Wanda.

Since being elected to Stone Town Council in 2011, I have spoken about issues that may affect people with a disability.

If elected in May I will again do my best to serve the people of Stone and the residents of St Michael’s ward in particular.