Stone Urban 2025 candidate profile – Polly Sutherland (Labour Party)

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
Polly Sutherland

Party
Labour Party

Division
Stone Urban

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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?

Hi! My name is Polly Sutherland, and I am your Labour Party candidate for the division of Stone Urban. I have a varied background, having trained, and run my own business in the arts for a number of years.

More recently, I returned to education to hone my long-standing passion for politics and social change, by studying Politics and International Relations at Keele University.

For the past four years I have worked within a communications role within the charity sector in Staffordshire; assisting, championing and highlighting the work of those on the front line of local social issues.

Q2: Do you live in the Division?

No

Q3: If not, why have you chosen to stand here?

I live within half a mile of the Stone Urban boundary in the neighbouring division of Stafford Trent Valley, but Stone town centre is where my family are, where I spend my weekends, where I shop locally and go for healthcare.

I have a strong personal connection to the area, so while I may technically be just outside the boundary, Stone Urban is a division I care deeply about and would be proud to represent.

Q4: What relevant experience or background do you bring to the role of County Councillor?

I have a true passion for the local community. As previously mentioned, I have a varied background through my political education, employment, and self-employment, which I believe provides me a broad perspective on life, and valuable skills I can bring to the role of County Councillor.

In my communications role, I’ve been at the heart of the charity sector in Staffordshire, gaining a strong understanding of local issues and how local infrastructure works in practice. This has strengthened my confidence in engaging with communities, building relationships, and ensuring voices are represented and heard. I am passionate about meaningful change and I would bring this to the role of County Councillor.

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 strongly support commitments to sustainable targets, but it is essential that this is not just seen as a target, but a way to improve the lives of local residents.

The County Council’s Net Zero commitment should lead to real, tangible benefits for local residents and businesses – cleaner air, better public transport, and lower energy bills. Achieving this means investing in greener infrastructure, supporting community energy projects, and helping small businesses and households transition to more sustainable practices.

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?

The proposal for the land adjoining Udall Grange is a clear example of why a unitary authority would be far better equipped to handle complex planning and development issues. It’s fundamentally flawed that one local council can approve developments that have broader implications for neighbouring areas, especially when those decisions may contradict the priorities, policies, or resources of another authority. This fragmented approach often leads to inconsistent planning and a failure to consider the bigger picture.

With one authority in charge, there’d be a clearer, joined-up approach to planning. It would make sure that any new development is backed by the right infrastructure and services, rather than being dealt with in a way that causes problems down the line. These elements are critical to sustainable development and should be assessed holistically.

Striking the right balance between the need for new housing and the impact on the local community is essential. It’s vital to listen to residents’ concerns regarding overcrowding of services and traffic, and I would do so at every stage of this, and any future, development proposals. Communities deserve to feel that growth brings opportunity, not overcrowding. That means ensuring planning and infrastructure go hand in hand from the very start, rather than in hindsight.

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?

The long closure of the Aston to Burston Trail is a perfect example of where local government can lose sight of the real-world impact delays have on residents’ lives.

A well-loved route has been left in limbo, frustrating walkers, families, and cyclists who rely on the positive impacts the route has on their lives and wellbeing.

Whilst funding has recently been confirmed, it is vital that this funding is utilised promptly. The fact that this has dragged on suggests a lack of urgency, which I would bring to these issues in the role of County Councillor.

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?

Stone High Street’s pedestrian zone should be properly enforced to ensure it remains a safe, attractive space for residents and visitors.

I would listen to and work with local businesses to find practical solutions that don’t compromise pedestrian safety or the town’s character, if we want Stone’s High Street to thrive, it needs to be somewhere people want to walk, browse, and spend time safely.

While access for deliveries, local business owners, and disabled users must be respected, tighter controls, such as clearer signage and better enforcement of timings, so that businesses remain accessible, but people cannot leave their cars for extended periods, are needed to prevent the Market Square from becoming a car park.

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?

The decline in local bus services across Stone and the surrounding area has hit some of the most vulnerable the hardest.

This isn’t just inconvenient, it’s socially, economically, and environmentally damaging, and I would push for the reinstatement of key local routes, not only for connectivity, but to boost sustainable travel options.

Older residents, young people, and those without access to a car are being left behind, cut off from shops, medical appointments, social connections, and job opportunities.

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?

I would advocate for integrated transport planning that includes cycle lanes, better footpaths, secure bike storage, and traffic-calming measures, ensuring that every new road scheme includes active travel from the outset. In short: we need to build for people, not just cars.

If elected I would seek to ensure that walking, cycling, and public transport are treated as core transport priorities. While roads will always need maintenance, we must also invest in safe, continuous walking and cycling routes, particularly around our local services.

It’s about creating a joined-up network where people have genuine choices. Supporting active travel reduces congestion, improves public health, and cuts emissions, all while being cost-effective.

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?

If elected I would push for consistent, county-wide road safety standards around schools, and better school transport planning, with enforcement that actually deters dangerous behaviour, not just signage that gets ignored.

Everyone has the right to walk their child to school without fear.

Speeding and dangerous parking near schools is a serious and ongoing concern for parents, teachers, and residents. If we want to keep children safe, we need to take road safety around schools far more seriously.

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?

Staffordshire’s SEND services are experiencing significant challenges.

If elected, I would advocate for increased funding to address shortfalls in SEND resources: early intervention, capacity building and improved communication between the County Council, schools, families, and the NHS to ensure transparency in decision making processes and that support is provided to children and young people more quickly effectively. I would also push for more funding into SEND teacher training.

From speaking to those in working in schools across Staffordshire there appears an imbalance in the allocation of SEND funding across Staffordshire, and I would fight to ensure that Stone Urban receives the funding and support it needs.

I often hear from local families that they have experienced great difficulty in accessing timely and adequate support, particularly amongst younger years. I am passionate about education, and it is vital to me that all children and young people receive the support they need to thrive.

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?

It is the belief of myself, and the Labour Party, that the current multi-tiered government model is overly complicated and wasteful.

There are already examples of local authorities which have transitioned into unitary authorities, saving millions, and improving services for their residents in the process – if we look at Hertfordshire, for example, they will save around £142 million a year when they transition to a unitary authority, that’s £142 million that can be better spent on local services.

I would be proactive in ensuring these changes would happen efficiently and quickly to ensure lower costs, more money for local services, and a joined-up government which means quicker, more strategic decision making, providing more efficient and better spent support for Stone Urban.

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?

A social issue I am deeply passionate about is Adult Social Care. It plays a vital role in supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities – older adults, those with disabilities, and individuals with complex health needs. That’s why I was particularly concerned to learn that, in 2024, Staffordshire County Council failed to act on more than half of the recommendations made by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman within the agreed timescales.

The ombudsman handles complaints from the public about poor levels of service, and so It’s simply not acceptable for a public body to fail in responding to these matters in a timely and appropriate way.

Q15: Finally, why should residents vote for you on 1st May?

If people vote for me, I will use my skills and experience to make sure Stone Urban’s voice is not only heard but truly championed at Staffordshire County Council level.

The Conservatives have held control of Staffordshire County Council since 2009, with the Independents having a long-standing hold in Stone, yet as discussed here, we continually see failings across the board, cuts in services, and potholes which take years to fix – it’s time for real change and meaningful reform. While I may be a newer face in local politics, I see that as a strength. I bring a fresh perspective and a genuine commitment to representing the people of Stone Urban.