Here are the candidates’ appeals for your votes in the Walton ward.

These eight candidates all want to represent the Walton ward on Stafford Borough Council and they have written these messages specially for A Little Bit of Stone.

THREE of them will be elected to represent the Walton ward.

Please feel free to comment and ask questions of the candidates at the bottom of this post.

HARRY BRUNT

LABOUR PARTY

I am a retired teacher who last worked in the Education Department of a Local prison. I am active with many local organisations and on several committees.

For example I am a School Governor at Saint Michael’s First School and Walton Priory Middle School; the Scout and Guide Band Committee; the Stafford/Stone Access Group; Saint Dominic’s Social Centre Committee and the Stone and District Ex-Services Bowls Club. I am also Chairman of the Staffordshire Parish Councils’ Association Executive Committee so I am widely experienced in both local and County issues.

I have served on Stafford Borough Council before and held senior positions on it. I was privileged to serve as Stafford Borough Mayor in 1998/9.

My main interests in Stone would be environmental ones. Retaining ‘Green Fingers’ in the built environment by reducing the trend for infilling and ‘back garden’ development; traffic and parking problems; access difficulties, etc.

I am especially interested in supporting the youth of the Town particularly the uniformed and sporting groups but believe that all members of the public should have proper representation on issues that are important to them and they need someone who is prepared to speak up for them as and when necessary. I am prepared to do this for you.

I ask for your support on May 5th.

MIKE CAREY

CONSERVATIVE PARTY

I’m married with two children, four grand children and a boxer dog called piglet. I feel very fortunate that I’ve been able to serve Walton ward for many years as one of the councillors and of course I have gained a lot of experience which has enabled me to use it to the benefit of the residents of Walton and Stone, by talking and try to influence people that make the decisions which enables the jobs to be solved.

I would like to say that I am very dissapointed by a statement made by a particular political party which have said we could lose up to 500  frontline police officers which as you can imagine has to have caused distress and worry.

This April we were informed that our area is to have seven extra Police officers and a new shift pattern which will make available more Police Officers on a Friday and Saturday evening and community Police Officers would remain.

Stafford Borough Council has been modernising and working for years to reduce the Council Tax to its lowest level in decades, and unlike other Councils we have been able do this without having to cut our frontline services or massive job losses. As for the future, next year’s tax is to be Zero again.

A large investment (approx £200,000 plus) in Westbridge Park has been announced for recreation for all ages and a consultation will start with the people of Walton and Stone we hope in June / July 2011.

I believe that a Councillor’s job is to listen to the concerns / problems and solve them.

MARGARET GOODALL

CONSERVATIVE PARTY

I have lived in Stone for most of my life. I love getting involved with local organisations, which allows me to get to know the peoples needs. This includes bringing pressure to bear on Councils that have the power to get things done like resurfacing Whitemill Lane and Pirehill Lane among others in the pipeline.

Your Conservative team never stops working to get improvements, nEw play areas are about to be implmented when you decide where you want them to be. After an increase in Council Tax of 50%, implmented by the Indepenents, what do you have – no project and NO refund either.

The closure of the Stafford Street ratrun is nearly complete, after 20 years of Labour promises it took only 6 months of Conservative power to do.  I’m not interested in publicity, I’m only interested in getting things done for the people of WALTON.

MARK GREEN

INDEPENDENT

Mark was elected as a Stone Town Councillor in 2007 and had the honour of becoming Town Mayor in 2008-2009 and Stone Town Deputy Mayor in 2010-2011. Mark is semi-retired and with his wife Kristan runs a Bed and Breakfast in Stone.

Since being elected as one of the Independent councillors he has successfully campaigned for the resurfacing of Pirehill Lane and Whitemill lane. Mark is President and an active member of Walton community Centre; he is a trustee of Age Concern Stone and is a governor of Christchurch first school.

If elected Mark will continue his work for the people of Walton at Town and Borough level. As an Independent Councillor he does not have to toe any party political line and will vote with the courage of his own convictions. During the last 2 years Mark has spent his spare time as a serving member of Stone Lions and also actively volunteers for other community groups

Mark will:

 Keep any rise in council tax to a minimum and ensure there is sound financial management.

 Fight any reductions in local services and amenities in Walton.

 Continue to work with the young people of Stone and to improve further their facilities.

 Seek to improve recreational facilities for Stone and prevent unacceptable development on Westbridge Park.

 Fight to maintain a permanent Police presence in Stone.

 Work with the Police to reduce crime, anti-social behaviour and fly tipping.

 Continue to apply pressure to achieve a long-overdue repair of all Walton roads.

 Make sure designated industrial land is kept for new business growth therefore creating local employment. We will not support the change of use for housing.

 Support all events taking place in the Town – they have a direct benefit to the local economy in all areas.

 Listen and act on the wishes of all Walton residents regardless of their individual political persuasions.

JILL HOOD

INDEPENDENT

Jill is married and has a 15-year-old daughter, so is fully aware of the needs of young people in the town. When she heard about the idea of a youth café she worked hard towards making it happen and was delighted when The Den opened meeting those needs. She has been a town councillor since 2007, Stone’s Deputy Mayor 2008-2009 and was proud to serve as Stone Town Mayor 2009-2010.

Jill has worked tirelessly helping people of all ages and political persuasions tackling a variety of problems. She is continuing to fight for new and improved play areas in Walton and she successfully campaigned against a planned mobile phone mast at the Shell Garage, she will continue with her objections to any further such plans in any residential areas. She has voiced strong concerns regarding the roads in Walton and, with the support of fellow independent councillors, succeeded in persuading the Highways Agency to resurface Pirehill Lane and Whitemill Lane.

Jill is a trustee of Age Concern Stone, a member of Walton Community Centre and Stone in Bloom, and actively volunteers for other community groups. She has spent the last six years as the administrative director and one of the main organisers of the Stone Food and Drink Festival. She has particularly enjoyed a non-political role on the Town Council and if elected will strive to work hard for the people of Walton ward as both a Town and Borough Councillor.

Jill will:

 Keep any rise in council tax to a minimum and ensure there is sound financial management.

 Fight any reductions in local services and amenities in Walton.

 Continue to work with the young people of Stone and to improve further their facilities.

 Seek to improve recreational facilities for Stone and prevent unacceptable development on Westbridge Park.

 Fight to maintain a permanent Police presence in Stone.

 Work with the Police to reduce crime, anti-social behaviour and fly tipping.

 Continue to apply pressure to achieve a long-overdue repair of all Walton roads.

 Make sure designated industrial land is kept for new business growth therefore creating local employment. We will not support the change of use for housing.

 Support all events taking place in the Town – they have a direct benefit to the local economy in all areas.

 Listen and act on the wishes of all Walton residents regardless of their individual political persuasions.

BECKY SAWYER

LABOUR PARTY

I am a full time teacher and a Mum to a 7 year old, so understand completely the stresses and strains of modern 21st living. I live in Stone, my son went to nursery in Stone and now goes to school in Stone. As a family we shop in Stone, and indeed in Walton, and use the recreational facilities on offer in Stone and love the balance of facilities and quality of life which Stone offers.

If elected, I would be a new representative for you with new ideas, and a modern and realistic approach. As Conservative and Liberal Democrat cuts are affecting my life, they must be affecting yours? I want to work for you in Walton to help prevent further damage, and to fight for local changes which will really make a difference to you.

My main concerns would be working to protect and develop facilities for families and young people such as The Den and Westbridge Park, and park and play facilities within Walton; to campaign for Walton road improvements; and to support the strong sense of community within Walton and within Stone by working hard to keep the communities’ identities and develop the festivals and family days which are unique to Stone. I want to fight against the deepening divisions within communities because of unfair and ill-thought out cuts. Thank you for your time.

 

JULIE TAYLOR

LABOUR PARTY

No statement received yet.

MIKE WILLIAMSON

CONSERVATIVE PARTY

I have lived in Walton for 40 years. I am widowed with 2 children and 2 grand children.I work in Stoke- in -Trent in the gas industry and am due to retire at the end of 2011.

I am presently a member of the G. P. Committee of Walton Community Centre, Chairman of Stone First Responders and now a Governer of Manor Hill First School. I strongly believe in putting WALTON FIRST especially in matters of Education, road repairs and maintenance and finding ways of improving parking on our roads.

At the same time getting the best value for our Local Tax Payers.