Thursday 4th May; polling 7am-10pm
We asked each candidate for 150 words; this is what they had to say…
Westbury North
David Jenkins – Liberal Democrat
I was born in Westbury got married and raised my family here. I am proud to be a member of this community and to represent it.
As your Councillor I have been a school governor, founded a diabetes support group, helped found the town Rugby Club and painted the White Horse. During my last term, I got the path at Avebury Close surfaced with lighting; fought to get numerous pot holes filled and roads repaired; established a nature reserve at the Mead and vigorously opposed all major planning applications.
Westbury needs improved infrastructure not more houses. I have put before you a comprehensive programme of reform and improvement over the next four years such as fixing Westbury’s roads, improved health and youth services and working with others to attract investment rather than yet more housing on the MOD site. I always put people first because you matter to me.
David Lancashire – Conservative
I am standing for election for the Westbury North Ward as a first time councillor. I have strong links with the community having lived close by for more than 30 years. As a consequence, I understand the issues affecting all of us who live in West Wiltshire.
Following a career in the pharmaceutical industry, I have worked for almost 20 years as a civil servant with what is now the Ministry of Justice, driving government-led initiatives to reduce re-offending. I work closely with prisons, including HMP Erlestoke.
I have a healthy regard for the democratic process and the will of the people.
If elected, I would work tirelessly in the service of residents. Anyone requiring help or advice can expect a prompt response from me.’
Mike Sutton – Labour
Mike Sutton has lived in Westbury for 40 years and spent most of his time in the railway industry . He has been a town councillor for four years and been active in the campaign to save the hospital. He is well aware of the need to improve the facilities and services in the town.
Mike says, “The facilities in Westbury have not grown to match the increase in the population and the infrastructure has not been delivered to match that growth. The people of Westbury have not been well served by Wiltshire Council and deserve better.
“Most of our needs have been ignored by the ruling group, partly because they are rarely challenged, with their large majority. Wiltshire Council needs different people of different views to ensure fair representation.”
Westbury East
Mike Kettlety – Labour
Mike has lived and worked in the area for most of his life, and as a local person, says he is keen to represent and serve the people of Westbury.
Mike says, “Like many who live here I have concerns with the amount of traffic which travels through the town on the A350, and with the growing number of houses being built in Westbury, this can only get worse. The increasing population suggests that the infrastructure relating to traffic, schools, and healthcare needs to be improved.
“I share the worry of many over the possible loss of a post office, and believe it essential that this facility returns to the town centre. Westbury needs investment and interest from various retailers, but this can only be achieved if the town centre environment improves.
“Westbury, with the right management, could become a bustling market town. It has a good rail service covering the West of England and with the regular service to London, the town could become an attractive tourist destination, helping reinvigorate the whole area.”
Gordon King – Liberal Democrat
Westbury is where I live. I went to school, got married and raised a family here. As your councillor I have served as a school and college governor, a board member of a housing association, led the fight to save our hospital, our fast train service and light controlled crossings outside schools.
I helped found the charity Crosspoint, trained as a debt advisor, arranged Westbury’s Health Fair and a child poverty summit.
Funding for the Westbury Festival was secured.
Fights to get roads fixed, drains cleared and oppose large scale planning applications have been fought. Building homes without infrastructure is intolerable.
Nothing stands still – our Health Centre is inefficient and struggling, the need for investment not housing on the MOD site, bringing forward plans for a Westbury bypass. Open, approachable, inclusive and collaborative, focused on outcomes and solutions, I enjoy helping people with their issues because whatever ‘bothers you bothers me’.
Rupert Lescott – Conservative
My wife, our two daughters (six and five) and I have lived in the area since 2010. We help out at our church and have run local voluntary groups and organised the Summer Fayre. Getting involved and helping others is what we do.
I served as an Army Officer for ten years, deploying on eight overseas operations and learning the importance of personal commitment and determination to get things done. When not deployed, I worked as a Samaritans volunteer, providing emotional support to people in crisis, including those with suicidal feelings.
I now work commercially as a management consultant, helping organisations to learn from experience, find the best ways of working and then enable their people to share them with one another.
I will use this approach and my past experiences to represent Westbury East if I am elected. Our town deserves better than it’s currently getting. Let’s change that.
Westbury West
Margaret Cavanna – Green Party
I moved to this area six years ago to Leigh Park, and now live in nearby Dilton Marsh. Currently supporting people’s well-being as a Holistic Health Practitioner, I also bring 20 years’ experience in Human Resources, ten at management level.
I fought to protect our environment in the Westbury and Wiltshire Frack Free groups, but we still need council policies to ensure our health, wildlife, water, air and soil are safeguarded for future generations. Devastating cutbacks in public services must be halted, be they in transport, social care, support to people with disabilities or young people. We need a thriving local economy and sustainable jobs to benefit everyone. Excessive housing development in Westbury should be curbed, in future creating housing options using innovative, energy efficient design which nurtures a sense of community.
Green Party principles of social justice and protecting our environment have never been more relevant here in Westbury.
Russell Hawker – Independent
I’m 55, grew up in Westbury and love the surrounding countryside.
I’ve served as a town councillor since 2002, district councillor (2003-9), and Wiltshire Councillor since 2009. As a commercial property chartered surveyor, I bring professional project management, property, planning, development and business skills to the role. As founding chairman of Leigh Park Community Association, I set up and led numerous projects which have provided a highly-successful, completely redesigned community centre and a site for a day nursery which will be developed shortly.
I was a school Governor at Matravers and Westbury Juniors (5 and 6 years).
My priorities include: Working closely with the town council on local issues which can only be fully achieved by being a member. Ensuring a town centre Post Office and two hours free parking and that the town council progresses the town vision plan and a neighbourhood plan to better control where housing goes.
Carole King – Liberal Democrat
I have lived in Westbury since 1985 where my children have grown up, attending local schools and taking an active part in our community. I retired three years ago from a career of over 30 years in local government and mental health services, which has included working for Wiltshire County Council.
I am currently chair of the BA13 Community Area Partnership, which has successfully completed the Safe Places Scheme and is about to launch ‘Dementia Friendly Westbury’.
I have been a member of a local Baptist Church for 25 years, a voluntary driver for LINK, treasurer of The Westbury Heritage Society and a local debt advisor, working out of Crosspoint. Being inclusive has been my life’s work and all these experiences have shown me that you get the best out of and for everyone if you work in the community, with the community, and for the community.
Jane Russ – Labour
Jane worked as a chemotherapy co-ordinator in her local hospital in Banbury before moving to Westbury. Now she has reached retirement, she wants to get more involved in the local community. She believes that we need more people on Wiltshire Council that will fight for the people of Westbury, saying they don’t seem to be getting the best deal at the moment.
Jane says, “Being a school governor, a community education council chair and other roles over 30 years working in the community has made me realise that it is local people’s views that matter most. I will listen to people’s opinions and make sure that I fight for the things that our town needs most.
“Things are changing very fast nationally now and we must make sure that Westbury is only changed in ways that we would want. Health care has not been so important since the NHS was created and we must ensure that Westbury has the provisions we need.”
Nick Stovold – Conservative
I’m Nick Stovold, the Conservative candidate for Westbury West. I live with my wife Abi and our twin babies and I work in the shipping industry.
My priorities for Westbury West are dealing with important everyday issues such as litter, speeding and planning – I will lobby Wiltshire Council to make sure these things are dealt with quickly and efficiently.
As a Conservative councillor working closely with Wiltshire’s Conservative- run council I believe that I will have a particularly strong and effective impact on these issues. I will also work hard to stop the slow decline of the town centre – in part by marketing Westbury’s heritage better and trying to bring more tourists into the town. I will also work to ensure that there is enough infrastructure and facilities to support the new housing developments. Above all I want to get things done for the town and its residents.
