Our sixth election candidate profile is from Conservative Party candidate Adrian Harding. Adrian’s responses to our questionnaire are below in their un-edited form.
All candidate responses can be found linked on our candidate page
- Candidate Name: Adrian Harding
- Party: Conservative Party
- Election: Stone Town Council / Stafford Borough Council
- Ward: Stonefield & Christchurch / Walton
Tell our readers about yourself
I moved to Stone in 2002, as my partner is a local, and I have benefitted enormously from the 17 years I have spent here. In that time, I have been involved in a number of local organisations including Stone Revellers Theatre Group and Stone SP Cricket Club, where I still manage a junior cricket team. I am a secondary school teacher and have been for 15 years. I live with my partner, 13 year old son and dog.
What’s your personal statement about why you’re standing and what you want to do over the next 4 years
I am very keen and determined to “give back” and energise the development of Stone, I genuinely believe that Stone has massive potential. I want local government to be an enabler, and not limit the vision but widen it. I would like to be a catalyst for positive growth and make sure decisions made include all demographics and backgrounds. Although, I do think there needs to be a focus on the young and families as they represent the future and I would like to see a vibrant town with a very positive forward-looking outlook.
How does standing as a political party candidate affect serving local people on local issues?
I would ask people not to mix up national deficiencies with local achievement – while people may be disheartened with national politics, (and rightly so) remember that the Conservative run Borough and County Council has done great things (on the whole) for the Borough and the Town. Think local people for local elections. One advantage of candidates being members of political parties is that they have transparent principles and belief systems (whether you agree with them or not), on a number of issues, and it is a lot easier to align yourself with that and vote accordingly.
Also, I can achieve more knowing I have the backing of a party and other members of that party, it would be a lot more difficult to develop/improve the town single handedly.
Do you live in Stone, if not what’s your link to Stone and your reason for standing as Stone candidate?
I do live in Stone, and as previously mentioned, have lived here for 17 years, previous to that I lived in a rural area in the South-West and understand the mechanics of communities and the potential conflicts.
What’s been your history as a political councillor?
None …this is my first time as even a candidate, Bear in mind though that experience is not always a “must have” – just because a candidate has been doing it a long time doesn’t always mean they have been doing it well, sometimes fresh ideas and perspectives are what is required.
What are the top 5 issues that you think affect the residents of Stone over the next 5 years?
There are a number of generic issues; youth development and support of local sports clubs, parking, appropriate house building, town centre development, attracting investment … which of course I am determined to improve, and my literature will outline how, but; .
I also have some specific issues I would like to address within the wards I would be representing;
– Whitebridge Way/Lane: Safety issues need to be adressed for children walking to school and using the railway footbridge in addition to proper maintenance of that road and roads in the area.
– Cycle friendly: Need to improve the ability to secure cycles on the High Street, less traffic and parking as result of more cyclists but need to be more facilities for this.
– Bus services: Some parts of the town are almost cut off from other parts, needs a rethink, e.g. Walton to Stone, again fewer cars, less traffic.
– Pedestrian way to Cold Norton: Many people (often young) work at the motorway services and walk along a very busy road, as well as residents along that road, this needs a pavement/walkway to improve safety.
– Play areas: too often overlooked and in disrepair, in many wards, and these are not only vital for families and the young but are also hubs for communiites – and allied to the community centres that also need supporting due to the great work they do.
How will you keep in touch with your constituents concerns?
I would like to “contactable”, via social media (via any local pages that I would be invited to), email and I would like to have monthly “surgeries”, ideally in a pub for a more relaxed and cohesive atmosphere.
