Below is the candidate profile for Steve Walley, the Conservative Party candidate for the Stone Town Council – Stonefield and Christchurch by-election.
This profile has been added to our Candidate Profiles page on our 2021 election hub – click here to see more candidate profiles.
Answers to the questions aren’t edited, other than for formating, and are therefore the candidates own words.
In your own words tell our readers about yourself
I live on Oulton Rd with my wife and I have three young children. I’m an outdoors person who likes to keep busy and active, I always need to have a project of some kind on the go. I like fishing, walking and I especially enjoy going on bike rides with my family and friends. I’m partial to a pint or two and am looking forward to the full re-opening of Stones pub’s and restaurants in the not-too-distant future.
I was always a hard worker and from a young age I dreamed of running my own business. At the age of twenty-one, I took the plunge and successfully applied for a Prince’s Trust loan to set up my first business, landscaping peoples gardens. This business venture sparked a life-long appreciation of garden design, landscape architecture and horticulture. Twenty years on, I own three successful businesses supplying hard and soft landscaping materials nationwide and I employ nearly 150 people.
My skills lie in strategy, business development, marketing and sales. My ethos in business is to put people first and create the conditions where everybody can win. The best example of this was in 2020 when we froze prices for customers, increased wages for our staff while reducing their working hours, and still managed to increase the company’s profits: a triple win! I also play a leading role in a project to eradicate child labour in Indian villages. So far, we’ve taken over a thousand children out of dangerous labour and put them back into formal education, undoubtedly my proudest achievement in business.
What’s your personal statement about why you’re standing and what you want to achieve over the term if elected?
I’ve always liked to fill my life with as much as possible and when I see a situation where I think I can help, it’s just not in my nature to walk on by. So why am I standing? I’m standing because Stone Town Council NEEDS new ideas and the people with the competence to deliver them. If I am elected to the Town Council I will bring ideas, energy and competence and I will make a positive difference. I am standing on six local issues which are covered later in this article but to sum it up, my ambition is to see Stone realise its potential as the number one place to live and work in Staffordshire.’
How does standing as a political party candidate affect serving local people on local issues?
If I am lucky enough to be elected, every action and every decision I take will be in the best interests of the Stonefield & Christchurch community, a community that I live in and am very much a part of. Being a member of a political party can only help me to be a better Town Councillor as I will get access to support and experience from people who are already doing the job. Take Abi Brown who is the leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Abi and her team are doing an incredible job of revitalizing things in Stoke and ever since I’ve been involved in local politics, Abi has made herself available to guide and support me. Local politics is not an easy job, so having this kind of peer-to-peer support is invaluable.
Do you live in the area you’re standing for, if not what’s your link to Stone and your reason for standing in this area and not your own?
Yes, I live in Oulton Rd in the heart of Stonefield. Sandwiched between Stonefield Park and the Common Plot and just a short walk down the hill into town. It’s a fantastic place to live!
What’s been your history as a political councillor?
I have no history as a political councillor but in 2019 I was appointed as chairman of Stone Town Conservatives. In a short space of time, I put together a capable and committed team of people who have worked tirelessly to understand the needs and priorities of Stone residents. We have carried out numerous surveys, built and maintained an active Facebook Page with nearly 800 likes, held events in the town centre, lobbied the Borough Council on behalf of residents and supported local businesses with engaging promotional video content. So, I’m already heavily involved in local politics and I am absolutely loving it. I hope I get elected because I have a lot more to offer.
Apart from family commitments what other commitments do you have on your time? This could be work, business, voluntary or community roles – if these are linked to organisations in Stone then please mention it.
Running three businesses keeps me busy but I always find time to get things done. Sometimes that means getting up earlier and going to bed later, so be it. If something needs to be done, then I will get it done. As the saying goes “if you want something done, ask a busy person.” That’s me, a busy person who gets things done.
What are the top 5 issues that you think affect the residents of Stone currently have?
- Reducing Crime & Antisocial Behaviour
Crime has to be the top priority. Stone is not a particularly crime ridden district but what we have seen recently is unacceptable. Above all else, people have to feel that they, their family and their property is safe. We need a better flow of intelligence and greater transparency of police activity in the town. If elected, I will build stronger links between Stonefield & Christchurch residents, the chief inspector and the Stone neighbourhood policing team. I’ll also join the Safer Neighbourhood Panel and act as the liaison between residents and the police.
- Restoring the High Street
The High Street has been on the slide for a while. It needs re-thinking. In a nutshell, we need to identify what it will take to get the people of Stone regularly visiting the High Street in bigger numbers. We also need to identify how we get people from places like Stafford, Blythe Bridge and Trentham choosing to visit Stone and spend their money here. We all keep hearing about the death of the High Street. Nothing could be further from the truth in my eyes, we just need to create the conditions that will make more people want to visit Stone High Street.
- Better Facilities For Children
The facilities for kids in Stone are not good enough. Phase 2 of Westbridge Park is very late which is extremely disappointing but we have poor facilities across the town. What are Stone’s elected councillors actually doing about it? We need to urgently identify the facilities needed, get them costed up and then decide how we prioritise and pay for them. Stone needs its own plan for better children’s play facilities and if elected I will be looking to create a plan for Stonefield & Christchurch.
- Protecting Our Green Spaces
We need to protect and preserve our green spaces. I am passionate about this and will fight to make sure that Stone doesn’t lose any more green space. The best way to protect green space is to use it more. We need to raise awareness of and promote the activities that take place on our green spaces. Not just team sports but other activities like fishing, bike riding, walking, outdoor exercise, or canoeing. Stone could and should be a regional centre for outdoor activities and our Town Council should be leading this drive with a creative outdoor tourism strategy.
- Better Physical and Mental Health
Emerging from Covid, physical and mental health needs to be a top priority. Luckily, we have the perfect tonic and its right on our door step in our amazing green and blue spaces. We need to encourage and support residents of all ages to live healthier lifestyles and the best way to do this is for people to get active and spend more time outdoors. Wouldn’t it be great to see Stone’s version of Joe Wickes on Westbridge Park coaching kids at the weekends, or the local version of Ray Mears doing wildlife tours along the banks of the River Trent? Perhaps walking football for some of our elderly residents. Just a few ideas there but the list is endless. I’m not advocating a Town Council that interferes in the way we live our lives and It should be individuals’ choice, but local authorities can help by ensuring that the best facilities are available.
How will you keep in touch with your constituents’ concerns?
I am an excellent communicator and am highly visible on social media. I have my own Facebook page where I communicate all my activities. I will also be publishing my email address and mobile telephone number and will encourage residents to contact me if there is anything I can help with.
Should you wish to know anything further about me or my vision for Stone, you can contact me by email or visit my Facebook Page.
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read this. I hope that I have convinced you that I’m the right person to represent Stonefield & Christchurch on the Town Council and I hope I can count on your vote on the 6th May.
