As part of our coverage of the upcoming Staffordshire County Council elections, A Little Bit of Stone invited every candidate standing in the Stone area to complete a standard questionnaire. The questions were shaped by feedback gathered through our recent Stone Matters survey, where local residents told us which issues matter most to them.
We asked candidates to focus their answers on the responsibilities of Staffordshire County Council – highways, education, social care, transport, public health and related services. Their responses appear below unedited, exactly as supplied.
Name
Jonathan Price
Party
Conservative
Division
Stafford Trent Valley
Q1: Tell us a bit about yourself. Who are you, and why have you decided to stand for election in the Staffordshire County Council elections?
I am currently a County Councillor and Cabinet Member for Education and SEND.
Stafford Borough has been my home since 1995, and we have raised a family here. I am a father of four with an additional three stepchildren and two grandchildren. All have attended local schools, with three still in full time education; one currently at secondary school, two at university and our three-year-old Granddaughter will be starting nursery next year. Our other two children have both graduated University and one now lives in the Netherlands and has his own business, the other lives in Worcester and is a civil engineer.
I come from generations of farmers who have all lived on the same farm since 1890, and understand the difficulties and pressures faced by those living in a rural community. Many childhood memories are of helping on the farm and caring for our many animals. My love of the countryside and nature eventually led me to obtaining a degree in agriculture and I still spend time helping on the farm, even though my career eventually turned in another direction and I opened small independent shop in Stafford town centre in 1996. This has always been family run and each year we try to support local children with work placements, particularly those on the spectrum. Despite the challenges that COVID had on us, we are about to celebrate our 30th year in business! I am also a board member of the Stafford Town Centre Partnership which helps to support town centre businesses and events.
I gain an immense amount of satisfaction through giving help to others and am deeply passionate about helping those who may have difficulty in helping themselves, including children, the vulnerable and the elderly in the community. This has always been the driving force behind wanting to serve my community as a councillor and I have always felt privileged to do so.
Children’s’ welfare and those in education (especially those with special educational needs and disabilities) are close to my heart. We are raising a child with autism and understand the challenges that comes with having a SEND child and this is a journey my step daughter is just about to begin with our our granddaughter.
I have held various roles in local schools including as a governor in a local primary school (later the Chair of Governors) and special school nursery and, as such, I saw a real need to improve our schools. During my time in my cabinet role, I have seen many improvements, much need expansions, and overseen the building and opening of many new schools, with additional new school builds in the pipeline.
I have always done all I could to help the community and ensure that people are receiving the support and advice they needed, including housing and benefit emergencies. In my role as a County Councillor, I listened to my residents to improve my division and key County Council responsibilities. I held regular surgeries to listen to views, support those who need it and work with community groups to support them with their priorities along with worked on green initiatives.
A SMALL snapshot of some of my achievements are; Tackled flooding and worked with agencies to ease long standing issues, regularly arranged and took part in litter picks, lobbied for additional funding for schools/SEND, supported school head with regular meetings, continued to improve SEND provision, built/expanded and improved schools, supported families with SEND children/young people, set up (and volunteered in) a Covid vaccination centre, represented the County on Staffordshire Covid Outbreak Board, held emergency collections for Ukraine, protected local green spaces and prevented inappropriate developments builds, supported social housing, built new crossings for elderly residents and children, installed additional speed indication devices, filled and delivered emergency sandbags when homes were flooded, built a brand new neighbourhood park, regularly reported road issues and created wild flower meadows.
Q2: Do you live in the Division?
Yes
Q3: If not, why have you chosen to stand here?
I live right on the boundary of the division now due to the boundary changes, and have family and friends living in all areas of the Trent Valley Division. My partner grew up and went to school in Stone, as did her three children and my step daughter and son in law, currently live in Walton with our two grandchildren. My in laws have lived on Aston Lodge for the last thirty years and moved here with my partner and her two sisters during the phase one build. We know the area extremely well and have witnessed the growth of the town and the pros and cons of living here, as well as understanding the needs of the area through personal experience and that of our friends and family.
Q4: What relevant experience or background do you bring to the role of County Councillor?
I was a Borough Councillor for 8 years and Cabinet Holder for the Environment and Climate Change and introduced the Climate Change Strategy for the Borough, plus I have been been a County Councillor for 8 years and I am currently the Cabinet Holder for Education and SEND – a post I have held for three years. I am also a business owner and have found this, plus my own personal experiences, invaluable for the role.
Q5: The County Council has declared a climate emergency and committed to a Net Zero target. What does that commitment mean in practice for local residents and businesses? What will you do to support this goal locally?
I was a Borough Councillor for 8 years and Cabinet holder for the Environment and Climate Change and actually introduced the Climate Change Strategy for the Borough. Through this I set up the Climate Change and Green Recovery Panel to work with officers, in looking at initiatives that could help residents and businesses become more environmentally conscious – beginning with small changes that are easy to implement.
There were a range of people involved which included representatives from Borough Green Groups and organisations, residents and business owners, all with different overviews and ideas.
Setting up similar panels across the division and also liaising with Keel University, The County Council Environmental Portfolio Holder and other organisations, can support both businesses and residents in achieving their objectives. Its also invaluable for new incentives and ideas and is a great way for people to come together and raise all things green, with a local slant.
I have a small, family business myself and understand that its not always simple to make the changes and can take time and mental adjustments to find alternative ways of working, that can be better for the environment. We have found ways to recycle and repurpose everything from wires, leads and ink, to paper, circuit boards, metal casings and cardboard/bubble wrap. We have different companies that collect our recycling and find local initiatives or collection points for others – we even offer boxes and wrapping to the public or charities.
We are lucky that we are already in a better position that other authorities and began implementing changes to help combat the climate change emergency earlier. Did you know that all domestic waste collected in the Borough is not sent to landfill, but to an incinerator at Four Ashes which converts it into electricity, which is returned to grid.
My previous portfolio holder position, along with my experience of recycling through my business, means that I understand the pressures that we face from a practical perspective when making green changes. Sometimes we can’t make the changes that are needed due to the constraints we’re under, and looking at ways to ‘off set’ our carbon footprint is the only route.
Q6: The Udall Grange estate is nearing completion, and just last month, proposals were announced for a further 500 homes on adjoining land. There has been no mention of improvements to infrastructure, GP capacity or dental services. The County Council is responsible for roads, schools, and medical services, while Stafford Borough Council handles planning. How do you square away this imbalance? What would you do to ensure new developments do not come at the cost of existing residents’ wellbeing?
I personally think we have a battle on our hands. Infrastructure improvements can be insisted upon from developers and they can be conditioned at the point of planning consent, to pay for, and deliver them, themselves. However, as we have seen with Taylor Wimpey on Staffords’ Beaconside road, developers can be a law onto themselves. The Borough Council can threaten enforcement if these conditions are not adhered to and the timelines kept to. This, unfortunately, is not always the case. Pressure needs to be kept on developers to ensure these conditions are met on time.
GP and dentistry capacity is something we are all affected by and surgeries can be built, but without recruitment of more practitioner’s and attracting new graduates down this career path, we have our hands tied. The Government and Integrated Care Board need to look at more ways to reduce this countrywide problem, as it is not in the gift of the County Council to do this, however money can be requested by the ICB from developers to go towards health and dentistry.
Unfortunately, the prepared Borough local plan (due to be adopted last year) has been scrapped by the Labour led Coalition – the cabinet comprise of Labour, Borough Independents and Green members. This took many years to compile and with the Unitary Council on the horizon, I suspect that the new local plan will not be completed in time and the Borough will have been disbanded. We are yet to understand how things will progress under those circumstances and whose responsibility this will become. The sum of £508,310 has been set aside to restart the new look plan and this is at a cost to the public. A Little Bit of Stone have covered this story historically and information is still available regarding this.
With the changes to the planning regulations and no updated plan, we are feast for hungry developers and have little power to prevent large applications coming forward in droves. The sad thing is that the price is paid for this by the residents and the countryside.
A HUGE Solar Farm in the Trent Valley Division at Drointon, was recently refused at a Borough Council Planning Meeting and approved at appeal. The Inspectorate cited the lack of local plan adoption as the reason. Had It been adopted last year, the likelihood is that it would have been refused. It is imperative we do all we can to try to prevent this happening again. The land at ASTON BY STONE is currently facing a similar fate, for the same reason. I will support residents to fight against these inappropriate developments and attended and offered my support at the residents meeting before Christmas.
I’m not opposed to development, but it must be the right type, in the correct place.
Q7: The Aston to Burston Trail has been closed for months following the collapse of a footbridge. A drawn‑out process between the landowner and local authority has left this well‑used route in limbo. Do you think the County Council has done enough to uphold public rights of way in our area? What would you do differently?
Fortunately, we now have a time line to work with to bring this issue to a close. Its a situation that has impacted greatly on the local community and not been an easy one to navigate.
As a regular hill and mountain walker, I rely heavily on public footpaths and rights of way. These routes are all too easily lost if they are not upheld, and it is IMPERATIVE that we do all we can to ensure they are kept well maintained for all to enjoy.
I have been working with the current County Councillor and the agencies involved, to understand the problems that have occurred and the lessons learned.
I am really pleased to say that the end is in sight. The County team has been working with the Environment Agency, ecologists, structural engineers and liaising with the land owner to develop a workable solution that ensures legal compliance. Ecology reports, structural assessments and tree risk assessments have all taken place. The funding has been set aside to reinstate the existing bridge, along with contingency funding should a replacement be required.
The bridge recovery should take place by the end of May, assessed and refurbished or a new one ordered and manufactured, so it can be reinstated by the end of the year. Other planning tasks will be undertaken to reduce delay. A more detailed time line will be available in time for the Stone Rural Parish Meeting on the 13th May, and the County Council will update them with the information that I have provided, along with any further updates.
This has gone on far too long. I would have liked to have seen better communication from the County Council and I would have paid a visit to the land owner and spoken with him directly, to understand his concerns and create better dialogue between all parties involved. As a County Councillor is my role to act as the voice of the community, and ensure that all communication is transparent whilst residents feel supported.
Q8: What is your stance on the enforcement of Stone High Street as a pedestrianised zone? At times, the Market Square resembles a car park. Should access be more tightly restricted or more flexible, and how should this be enforced?
My partner and in-laws remember Stone pre pedestrianisation and the dangers this caused. The implementation of the pedestrian high street created a safe zone for all. I understand the problems that you’re referring to and witnessed them first hand when visiting The Crown of India of an evening.
There is NO POINT having restrictions that are not adhered to and there should be no exceptions. In my opinion, there should be no vehicle access through the high street other than loading, unloading and emergency access ect. Allowing any other type of access and not closing off the high street to normal traffic, is causing more problems yearly and creating issues that were eradicated many years ago – particularly as the town grows.
By ensuring new restrictive signage is in place, regular patrolling of enforcement officers and PCSO’s, plus working with the Town Council to look at local funding for additional enforcement officers and other ways to prevent the problems currently seen.
Q9: Stone and the surrounding area has lost many of its bus routes in recent years. This leaves many residents, especially older people and those without cars, isolated. What would you do to improve public transport options in the division?
This is something that has been discussed on many an occasion. My partner was bought up in Stone and has lived at Walton and Aston Lodge Park, where my in-laws have lived for the last 30 years. There was a mini bus that served the estates for many, many years and was well supported until there was a change in providers, the amount of times tabled diminished, until it was impossible to use due to the lengths of times between pick ups. My family have all been affected by the lack of transport now and it is something that has to be picked up with the providers. I believe that initially this can be done by showing that the need has changed, and trialling a scheme that serves both Aston Lodge, Stone town centre, Oultan, Cherryfields and Walton once more. This may initially need support from the Town and Parish Councils and voluntary organisations, to show the bus providers that it’s viable but I do have a plan in mind to follow and I know and understand how important this issue is – this would be a lifeline to many.
Q10: With transport in mind, what is your view on how the County Council should balance road infrastructure investment with active travel options such as walking and cycling?
The County Council have balanced books and is one of the few Authorities that do. This is due to careful spending and ensuring that the most vulnerable are prioritised and the costs that go with these responsibilities.
Any grants made available by the government, are applied for and developers have to show that they have considered active travel options as part of their plans, including large employment sites. The Government allowances are ringfenced and it is not always possible for additional opportunity spending unless it is under these umbrella’s. The Council are always mindful of how the limited funds are spent but try to highlight healthy travel. This includes School travel and encouraging parent/carers and children to walk or take advantage of any walking bus schemes set up.
Q11: Speeding and dangerous parking, particularly on roads near local schools, is a common concern. What can be done to improve road safety for children and penalise offenders?
This is a problem faced by ALL schools and parking will only improve if more children and parents/carers walk. There are a number of initiatives that have been undertaken to try to prevent speeding and poor parking;
The ’20 is Plenty’ speed reduction and signage has had a good response, especially in conjunction with Speed Indication Devices and/or speed bumps.
Speed Indication Devices, reminding drivers that they are going above the legal limit.
Regular reminders to parents/carers to look at car sharing or walking and considerate parking.
Walking Bus Schemes and support in setting these up.
PCSO patrols at school times to ensure that parents/carers are not parking illegally or irresponsibly and warning of the consequences.
Arranging for an enforcement officer to patrol at school times and issue fines.
Public meetings to discuss the problems with Councillors, Police and School representatives.
Q12: What is your view on the provision of school places and SEND services in Staffordshire? Are local families being properly supported, and what changes would you advocate for at the County level?
We have a SEND child. Through my experiences, I realised that changes were needed, and I am proud that I have been leading these changes in the last three years. The SEND system is broken and seriously understaffed and underfunded. There has been a huge demand for educational healthcare plans since the pandemic and this has increased the pleasure on the service. Despite shouting, the funding to make the changes we need is still not forthcoming. I have lobbied MP’s in the current government and asked they speak with their cabinet colleagues, to raise this desperately needed funding and policy changes.
We are seeing slow, but positive steps in the way we look after our most vulnerable learners in Staffordshire, but it isn’t enough. I am eager to continue heading these improvements by putting pressure on the government for desperately needed changes, whilst continuing working with and listening to, local organisations and the views of parents and schools.
We’re not the only parents that have felt like we’re battling the system and that things are taking longer than they should.
Work needs to be done both locally and nationally. SEND children and parents will continue to feel, and be, let down unless the fundamental policy changes and funding happen…and soon.
We have an excellent record for parents/carers getting their first choice school place for their child. WE are actually above national average with 9 out of 10 parents in Staffordshire gaining their first choice place. A total of £50 million will be spent on building new schools, and maintaining and improving existing ones in Staffordshire over the coming year and there are more in the pipeline. It is vital that we keep up with the local provision need to ensure siblings attend the same schools. My step children all attended the same schools that my partner and her sisters did and in order to future proof this for other families, we have to make the improvements that meet the demand- including SEND provision.
Q13: Devolution is coming down the tracks, with the creation of new combined authorities. What are your views on this shift, and how can we ensure towns like Stone are properly represented in a larger unitary structure?
Whilst I believe Devolution could be a good thing and a strategic authority led by a mayor could bring more money into County, I am less convinced by Unitary Authorities. The Devil is in the detail and the reality is, that we don’t have much detail surrounding this. With the removal of Boroughs and Districts, a vacuum will be created and I suspect that greater pressures will be put upon Parish and Town Councils.
If the Staffordshire County Council Unitary area proposal is approved. we could be the masters of our own destiny. I am, however, deeply opposed to a unitary containing debt ridden S-O-T, as local tax payers will be propping up their budget.
Any Unitary proposals should include a consultation with both residents and Parish/Town Councils, and Unitary Councillors need to ensure clear communication with both.
Q14: What is one issue in the division that you believe does not get enough attention at County Council level, and what would you do about it within the remit of the role?
This is not an easy question to answer as the Trent Valley Division has so many different communities, along with 14 Parish Councils.
There are several issues that need to be addressed. more emphasis on flooding, road repairs, supporting rural business ( inc. farming families), rural crime and the elderly – particularly tackling isolation and mental health. Speaking with residents and Parish Councils have highlighted all of these.
The Stone part of the division needs better connectivity and as the area grows, the needs change. There is a desperate need for the return of a small mini bus service to do a loop of the town again, covering the main estates and roads. My mother in law does not drive and has found it difficult accessing the town from Aston Lodge once the bus stopped many years ago, as have many people she knows. It seems that this is a problem faced by many and this service needs reinstating and a trial set up to prove the need. This is in addition to some of the other issues that have already been mentioned in other areas of this questionnaire.
Q15: Finally, why should residents vote for you on 1st May?
I work hard and have always given all to the role. I have always prided myself in being easy to contact, willing to listen, help, support and able find solutions to issues raised… but most of all, to be honest and straightforward in my response. I don’t believe in fobbing people off with unachievable or misleading promises, as I have always believed that you treat others as you wish to be treated, which is openly, frankly, honestly and with integrity.
I have always been passionate about helping people and I understand that I am there to represent the voice of the residents and Parish/Town Councils, so I can make the lives of those I represent, better.
Strong, vibrant communities are important and the issues that may concern you, affect us all (including my family and I), so improving our area benefits us all – it is so important to feel heard and be proud of where you live.
I appreciate that choosing the person to represent you is not easy, but I have loved being a voice for residents by representing my previous area. I have worked extremely hard the last eight years and would like the opportunity to do the same here and improve the lives of everyone living in the new division.
17 comments
Parkside local
Responding to last comment, how rude to suggest people should ignore previous write ups. THE ONLY reason he is not restanding in this area is that it would be highly unlikely he would get reelected. I have personally voted for Mr Price but not for last election as he is not upto the job.
We have rubbish old playparks. I asked about Parkside’s playparks and was told we have Holmcroft. I don’t drive and cannot walk that far.
Regarding his SEND duties, my experience of him dealing in this area is not great.
Our beloved trees have for years had their maintenance ignored. It was raised time and time again with Mr Price. Large branches falling off some. It culminated that a huge tree went down in the last storms before Christmas. We also had our infamous leaning tree of Parkside that was toppling over and despite Mr. Price being written to with photos & video evidence he emailed back to say it’s not his problem. Mr. Price could not be bothered to check and merrily fobbed them off. It turned out it was his to deal with. A local I believe got the Health & Safety Executive involved.
There was a recent road recovering carried out on Parkside which he did advertise was taking place. The problem is folks who may not see his Facebook jumped onto a government website which detailed different start dates. A fair few check this gov website due to the lack of updates from our Councillor. What happened next on FB was then a debate about the dates. As a result of questioning Mr Price did a proper explanation about how one network works, explained dates and then berated our FB page. Had Mr Price explained this properly the first time there would have been no miscommunication.
Be warned If you disagree with him you get blocked from his Councillor page.
Once the work was carried out he then failed to check on the workmanship and deal with the MANY issues of shoddy workmanship. Tar was poured over growing kurb weeds, potholes just had bitumen covered over. Other potholes developed. One road not done at all due to the road not being in a good enough state. Im also told a cable box has been driven into by the road sweeper so waiting for that to be mended.
This whole roadworks sh1tshow in Beaconside should have been finished by now and will continue for quite some time. I don’t drive and rely on the busses. If our roads cannot be accessed our busses are cancelled. I missed a GP appointment because of it. Mr. Price does not live in our area so our issues are out of sight out of mind. He doesn’t live in Stafford Trent either.
Concerns should be dealt with by elected Council officials and he should have been our voice. He should support you no matter your political persuasion.
Comments alluding to the Parkside News Facebook page. I rely on it. I find the comments attributed to this insulting and inaccurate. I am aware the page admin helped deliver several of Mr. Price’s campaign leaflets over the years as he was the standing Councillor. That’s hardly a Labour activist if you are alluding to them. The page does allow certain freedoms but the actual Admin has never ‘abused’ Mr Price but some locals use this portal to vent their frustration and to ‘call Mr Price out’ on his TOTAL lack of engagement and fobbing people off.
The fraud of a former Labour County Councillor has been brought into question by a previous post, thats a bit rich when Mr. Price was in court himself for not paying his Council Tax (don’t throw stones into glass houses). The Labour Party dealt with it and removed them. Yet the Conservatives did not!
Securing the huge green area by Chartley Close and the pathway was done MANY years ago and orchestrated by Action Parkside. However it happened it wasn’t down to Mr Price alone but it does show the lack of action on other matters when he keeps dredging up old news.
It does add to my annoyance that Mr. Price steps foot on to the estate momentarily for a photo then he disappears quicker than Spock leaving StarTrek Enterprise.
Good luck people of Staffordshire Trent choose wisely.
Resident
Sorry Parkside Local.
My comment was a reply to the comment from Parkside Resident.
Resident
Reply to the most recent “Parkside Resident”comment:
Your comments are certainly very descriptive and very passionate. But given that the candidate is now standing in a completely different area, it does seem a little odd that a resident from his current soon to be former division is being so defensive, especially when others are raising genuine concerns that clearly describe a very different version of the person being presented by the candidate and those offering such over the top support.
You said, “Don’t listen to the stuff they are putting here because they are just trying to get their person voted in.”
Well, of course people are supporting candidates they believe in. It’s an election. But let’s not pretend the candidate doesn’t have a political agenda of his own. He is no longer standing in the area he lives and has represented for years. If he was really that great, surely he would have no problem getting re-elected here. So why the move to Stafford Trent Valley?
That speaks volumes.
This makes it abundantly clear that you are close to the candidate and that is fine. However, it’s unfair to tell people to ignore serious comments from residents who have had very different and very valid experiences.
This isn’t just about party politics.
It’s about trust, accountability and listening to everyone, not just the ones telling people to ignore others and only pay attention to their version of things.
Looking at the comments, that says a lot on its own.
Parkside Resident
Im really shocked to read these writeups. they dont represent him at all and are similar to the same attacks hes had online. Jonathan has been the best coucillor we’ve had. the last labour county councillor was done for benifit fraud and finished up being independent. he did absolutly nothing but was the councillor when the marton grange estate went to planning and not clr price, yet he is being blamed for things that arent even in his area. he always supported the residents and wen it was Action Parkside residents asociation he came to every meeting and did with this other group but was verbally abused by one of the people who then ran the facebook page. they said lots of stuff abd made acusations but never said soory when they were wrong or did another post correcting things.
He always helped the school and comunity group. he secured some land on the estate and got the council to take it on to stop housing. he got the money to get a path put in and a proper gap in the railings to the stone road bus stop. He got the travellers moved from the green and had things put there to stop them coming back and helped to clen up. He bought equipment for the litter heros and helped them set up and aranged litter picking. he stopped people building on bits of land here lots of times. there are more things too including helping to get a communty shed and christmas tree and the notice bord at the shops and he had meetings every month for people to talk to him about things.
when it was covid he set up the vacineation hall and i saw him helping there to. I told him that i couldnt get into town to go to do the early shoping time for the elderly as my bus pass didnt start until the time slot had finished and i dont drive. He got the bus pass changed to start an hour early so we could do safe shoping and when i was ill he did my shopping for me and I didnt no him at all but i dont have family to help me.
when he had the new bungalows built in holmcroft because of the park. he helped my friend move from her old bungalow to her new one and even had some of her plants dug up and planted in her new garden to.
He was always dealing with the traveller people who kept going on the park and was always the person there first and cleaning up until he had the mounds put there to stop them and palnted flowers on it too for bees. he held lots of public meeting to and tried to help people but not everybody wants to say stuff because they get atacked by people.
Dont listen to the stuff they are putting here because they are just trying to get there person voted in i think and another thing, i am sad that we are losing him and that people are saying nasty stuff because he has been the best for us and I dont say things like that because i didnt vote for the conservatives but only for him because he works very hard for us.
Resident
Reply to recent “Parkside Resident”
Your comments are certainly very descriptive and very passionate. But given that the candidate is now standing in a completely different area, it does seem a little odd that a resident from his current soon to be former division is being so defensive, especially when others are raising genuine concerns that clearly describe a very different version of the person being presented by the candidate and those offering such over the top support.
You said, “Don’t listen to the stuff they are putting here because they are just trying to get their person voted in.”
Well, of course people are supporting candidates they believe in. It’s an election. But let’s not pretend the candidate doesn’t have a political agenda of his own. He is no longer standing in the area he lives and has represented for years. If he was really that great, surely he would have no problem getting re-elected here. So why the move to Stafford Trent Valley?
That speaks volumes.
This makes it abundantly clear that you are very close to the candidate and I think it’s unfair to tell people to ignore serious comments from residents who have had very different and very valid experiences.
This isn’t just about party politics.
It’s about trust, accountability and listening to everyone, not just the ones telling people to ignore others and only pay attention to their version of things.
Looking at the comments, that says a lot on its own.
Local resident
As a local resident and parent of an autistic child, I felt I needed to comment.
Some of the points raised here do matter to people, but the way it is all packed in feels a bit much. It really does try to cover every topic that might win votes.
Like others have said, it comes across like you are trying to hold on to any council seat you can. You are not standing in the area you currently represent, and it shows. This feels more like it was written to appeal to everyone rather than reflect what is actually happening locally.
Some people might see Jonathan Price as a strong supporter of SEND, but many families have had a very different experience. Some raised serious safeguarding concerns and never even got a reply. For someone in a senior role for SEND, that is worrying.
Also, saying you are “raising a child with autism” just sounds outdated. A lot of autistic people prefer identity-first language. Autism is not something separate or something to be ashamed of. It is not a disease.
That matters when you are in a position like this.
The claim about living in the division does not really add up either.
You say you live here, then explain you live on the boundary and mention family nearby. That is not the same as actually living in the area.
In fact, it has already been pointed out in the comments by your current residents that you do not live in the Trent Valley division at all. It feels misleading.
Finally, if the comments about legal threats are true, that is very concerning.
People should be able to speak about their experiences without being made to feel they cannot.
Stone resident
The comments make interesting reading.
Q2: Do you live in the Division?
Yes
Q3: If not, why have you chosen to stand here? I live right on the boundary of the division now due to the boundary changes, and have family and friends living in all areas of the Trent Valley Division.
Thats not true, a simple google search shows he lives in Stafford Central.
We need a candidate that will support us residents. It’s clear he hasn’t supported his previous ones as if he was as good as he says it beggars the question why he didn’t restand.
I think the Independent would be better for the area but would depend on his stance of Brexit otherwise I will go Reform.
Graham Mitchell
This gentleman talks the talk exceptionally well! Unfortunately, his words are spoken very much louder than his actions, he has chosen to walk away from his current seat as he knows that if he were to stand again, then he would be unceremoniously voted out. He has chosen to take the easy option of a safe seat.
He has repeatedly failed myself and our community time and time again, Counsellor Price will tell you exactly what you want to hear and then deny any knowledge of the conversation. He has failed our community on the debacle of the road widening scheme which is set to run over by 12 months causing chaos within our community and rather than support the community by challenging Taylor Wimpey and holding them to account, it appears that he has gone out of his way to be obstructive, in fact he has been supportive in defending the many failures of this organisation. Unfortunately, counsellor Price only seems to support those and represent those who vote for him, he doesn’t seem to grasp the fact that as an elected counsellor is duty bound to work for ALL of his constituents.
Counsellor Price likes to control every situation and if he cannot control it then he will be no part of it, I fully expect him to do everything within his power to have the comments on this thread removed, he doesn’t like dissent.
I find it condescending beyond belief that Callie Brookes has chosen to cut and paste responses to a couple of comments above. If you (Callie Brookes) had taken the time to read all of the comments then you would see that some of them were actually from Stone residents, how dare you make sweeping assumptions about those who have credible grievances against Mr Price? We talk from experience when you are relying on hearsay. It is typical that you suggest ‘Labour activists’ have taken to voice their concerns, that clearly demonstrates the pure arrogance and total lack of empathy I would expect. I suspect that your real name isn’t even Callie Brookes as your phraseology and word structure is very similar to that of his partner!
Our local Doctors surgery (Holmcroft) was failing badly, constituents could not get an appointment and when they did they were often cancelled, the service was terrible, failing beyond belief and despite our best efforts to have our elected counsellor act on our behalf it fell to our community Facebook page to organise a public consultation; during that consultation counsellor Price had our local labour Borough counsellor removed from the meeting because he was the serving mayor at the time and counsellor Price stated that he could not have any involvement due to his mayoral duties, the community drove the campaign to improve service at the doctors surgery and the community succeeded.
Councillor Price has been very economical with the truth on several matters, including the cost and implementation of speed detection systems, the ownership of decaying iron works within the road and most importantly the whereabouts and expenditure of section 106 monies, it took in 10 years to tell our community where these monies had been spent.
To top it all counsellor Price threatened me with legal action for challenging one of his partners incorrect statements on our community Facebook page, a threat which was reinforced by his hopeful replacement Mike Newton. Whatever you do don’t challenge him, he doesn’t like that.
I wish you well Trent Valley if you elect this individual, you’re going to need it!
Lady from Holmcroft
This write up under Clr Price has surely been confused with someone else.
As someone who lives on his previous area of Holmcroft I feel he misleads or misinforms the people on many issues or gives such little information many are left confused. He runs Holmcroft Ward Matters FB page which would easily update people but it’s rare and there are no updates on road closures, dates or anything associated. We have to rely on a Parkside page which I think is run by residents.
People will know that we have horrendous ongoing roadworks which have been extended time and time again. A local page organised a meeting with someone from the MPs office and the meeting was very well attended as many are incensed. They asked Mr Price to attend and he refused. Mr Price should have done this himself, took the housing company to task or at the very least attended.
The majority didn’t vote him back as our Borough Councillor but we are still stuck with him as a County Councillor until 1st May.
He talks the talk, will always make time for a photo opportunity but as to looking after the minions you have no chance.
He himself was in court for failure to pay his own Council Tax which he explained was an ‘oversight’. Despite him being a Councillor at the time and the many reminders he would have got. He should have resigned on this alone.
Wouldnt trust him as far as I could throw him. As far as being a family man? Really?
Andy Osgathorpe
I’ve not been particularly impressed by Cllr Price over the past years and reading his profile I find it hard to believe his “interests in Stone” are actually born out by the what I’ve experienced and are in fact exaggerated for election purposes.
I recall his verbal support given at one consultation over the sale of part of the Tilling Drive park to build the current care home and 1/3 of the land. The fact that the park was protected by legislation, featured in draft Stone Neighbourhood Plan as Local Green Space, and supported by the action group to stop the sale was completely ignored. He actually demeaned the use of the park and supported the Sale for development. It was a shameful display lacking respect for the campaign and residents attending in supporting his political ends.
It appears to me his so called “support” for the new additional section to this division at Aston Lodge, Stone which has now been publicised was no where to be seen when the residents action group fought tooth and nail to prevent the proposed development of Blackies lane both at the Borough Planning Meeting or two planning enquires ensued.
In all he’s demonstrated a lack of support and even his opposition to the wishes of residents in Stone. In may ways he epitomises political ambitions at the expense of his constituents wishes. Time for a change.
Mary Fullwood
Simply wow
What a write up. This portrays the absolute arrogance of the man.
With his Councillor gf/partner Marnie Phillips they were catalyst of getting Katie Hopkin’s cancelled from a sold out tour of Stafford Gatehouse. You only have to google to see the fuss they made. Whether you love or hate her he does not allow freedom of speech.
I attended a public meeting to do with roadworks and understand he threatens residents with legal action if they question him.
Very dangerous man
Parkside Resident
Mr Price has never really been interested in his ward and the issues that we have had to deal with. Yes may be showed up at meetings, made all the right noises but actually never really made any difference. The residents of Parkside themselves fought for answers to questions put to him and even then had to push for issues to be looked at. Thanks to the hard work of some of our residents we got issues resolved ourselves and continue to work with Street Scene, Taylor Wimpy for the benefit of Parkside Estate. Updates on the Roadworks are all thanks to our Parkside News. I think before voting for Mr Price people need to ask just what did he actually do for his ward because for Parkside certainly didn’t benefit from anything
Callie Brookes
I see the PARKSIDE labour activists are on here, the information you’re citing is nonsense but has been pushed by some pretty nasty people who have spread lies around the estate. I have relatives who have lived there for decades and he has done a substantial amount of work to help and support people there – including securing green spaces. you should be ashamed of yourselves for the nasty way you have behaved on social media, hounding someone and spouting mis information but not saying your wrong when you find you are. no, you won’t apologise and put it right will you?? – all for a Labour agenda and under a secret profile. According to my brother and sister in law, he’s been the best councillor (Borough or County) that they’ve ever had, particularly as the last Labour County Councillor was convicted of benifit fraud and thrown out.
STONE people – dont fall for this. Parkside residents are disgusted by the way they are behaving. you dont mention the labour borough councillor who doesnt even answer an email and has been missing in action since election.
Louise Williams
Wow that’s certainly a very different read. What a load of fabricated nonsense. Price certainly knows how to spin a yarn and talk the talk but never actually fulfills what he promises. Callie Brookes your wording etc seems a lot like they way Cllr prices partner would word things strange that isn’t it the fact your the only one standing up for Cllr prices on here. Please don’t be fooled by these two they are very conniving and a dangerous pair together. Making a remark about our labour Cllr that he has been missing since the election he is our current mayor and can not be political in this time but has been sending another Cllr to be at meetings etc on his belhalf. Funny how when I was at the meeting about holmcroft surgery Cllr price got Cllr James removed saying he couldn’t be there while being mayor. Cllr James did so much for Parkside and holmcroft in his year before becoming mayor. Cllr Price had lots of opportunity to get the bus stop fixed on Parkside as this was a county issue not a borough issue but only after a few months of borough Cllr James had been elected he had got the problem sorted even though this was not his job.
Parkside residents have been let down time and time again and had their heads filled with lies who have suffered so much over the years Cllr Price has been our county cllr. We have been lied to about the section 106 money on numerous occasions by Cllr Price. The residents of the holmcroft ward shouldn’t have had to persue for a public meeting to be called about holmcroft surgery that should have been Cllr Price. Cllr Price runs a community Facebook page were personally I think he should be updating residents on the ever going road works on Beaconside. He fails to do this we have to rely on Parkside news’s page who is run by a resident. I’m guessing he doesn’t want to backlash of what he each update would cause. Please people don’t be fooled by him.
Parkside Resident
Seriously our Labour Borough Councillor has been the Mayor. Maybe as a thank you to remove Mr Price. As mayor they cannot get involved with politics. However before he became the Mayor he acted on the issues affecting Parkside which Mr Price failed/couldn’t be bothered to do such as when the foreign lorry hit our precious bus stop.
Our local FB page had to sort. They got the photos of the crash, the admission of guilt and information was passed to Cllr Price. ALL Mr Price had to do with that info was pass it on to Council insurance. He failed, he was chased and failed again.
Another B/Cllr was contacted and he got the information given by said FB page and he went direct to the insurance. Our bus shelter was rebuilt as a result. All evidence of all can be obtained.
Parkside Estate
Whilst Mr Price’s write up of himself is full of enthusiasm, the words are more of fiction, something Enid Blyton would be proud of.
Mr Price has neglected his Ward and residents on many occasion. This is nothing to do with political party.
Please do not be drawn in. Many residents are hugely disappointed and let down and feel he is running away from a complete shambles rather than being unelected – as he was unelected in the Borough elections.
We are desperate for a new County Councillor that will honor the NOLAN principles of being a councillor and represent his constituents
Callie Brookes
I see the PARKSIDE Labour activists are on here, the information you’re citing is nonsense but has been pushed by some pretty nasty people who have spread lies around the estate. I have relatives who have lived there for decades and he has done a substantial amount of work to help and support people there – including securing green spaces. you should be ashamed of yourselves for the nasty way you have behaved on social media, hounding someone and spouting mis information but not saying your wrong when you find you are. no, you won’t apologise and put it right will you?? – all for a Labour agenda and under a secret profile. According to my brother and sister in law, he’s been the best councillor (Borough or County) that they’ve ever had……particularly as the last Labour County Councillor was convicted of benifit fraud and thrown out.
STONE people – dont fall for this.