Wiltshire Council Elections 2017

Thursday 4th May; polling 7am-10pm

We asked each candidate for 150 words; this is what they had to say…

Melksham North

Pat Aves – Liberal Democrat

I have lived in Melksham for the last thirty years, having spent most of that time working as a Home Economics teacher both in London and several local schools. I have been a Town Councillor for the last six years and a County Councillor for the last four years.

I am passionate about many aspects of town life but in particular my main area of interest has always been the care and interests of children and their health and education. They are the future of this town and need to grow up in an atmosphere where they feel valued and cared for, so that they in turn learn to value and care for others.

This is why I feel so strongly about the condition and provision of parks and sporting facilities, and acknowledging their achievements at all ages and levels. I am also a compulsive litter picker and am part of the Town Tidy Team.

Nick Holder – Conservative

I live in the centre of Melksham with my wife, Kelly, and my son Tyler who attends Melksham Oak, where I am a governor. I also have a daughter, Joanne, who lives and works in London.

I have held a variety of commercial management jobs in retail that have taken me all over the country. During my time in retail, I worked for some of the largest UK retailers including Marks and Spencer and WH Smith.

Since 2009 I have been working in the skills sector and I am now the operations director of a national company which helps the long-term unemployed learn the skills needed to help them find sustainable employment. We also deliver the National Citizen Service contract for 16-17 year olds in Melksham.

As an active resident whose family life is centred in Melksham, I am passionate about using my business experience to ensure our community remains a great place to live and work.

Geoff Mitcham – Independent

I’ve lived in Melksham most of my life having been to both Lowbourne and Shurnhold schools and I have a passion for my home town. I first joined the Council in 1998 and served for nine years then, after a six year break, decided to stand again as I wanted to see Melksham improve for all the right reasons.

I sincerely believe local councils should be non-political. I also believe there should be one Council but that is unlikely to happen. I am currently chairman of Melksham Music and Drama, The Rachel Fowler Centre and am the promoter of Melksham Rock ‘n’ Roll Club. I have also served on various committees and was, at one time, a Governor of George Ward School. I volunteer in the Tourist Information Centre and my main interests are music, drama and computers.

Richard Wiltshire – Independent

I live in Roundponds with my wife Pamela, with three children and three grandchildren, and work in construction. A former Mayor and District Council cabinet member for the environment and recreation, I initiated the bin collection services giving Wiltshire high recycling rates. Recognising how voluntary groups benefit from grants, I was pleased to restart the now flourishing Melksham Gardeners Club and have promoted the Assembly Hall facility to include cinema and national entertainment.

I have chaired the Council’s Health Working Group for ten years supporting our GPs’ services, Melksham’s X-ray equipment, is now a walk in service. Consultants could visit, avoiding patients’ travelling  and helping Bath Hospital. I support the Wilts & Berks canal link, new rail services perhaps with steam trains, and the reuse of the Blue Pool for Melksham’s 350 bowls players. All councillors should work together not as now where some follow their political ambitions and not the interests of Melksham First.

Melksham Central

Paul Grainger – Labour

I am 52 years old and have lived in Wiltshire for ten years. I am a civil servant, working in Bristol as a statistician. Born in Liverpool, I lived in the Merseyside area until I was 24 when I moved to London where I trained to become a qualified librarian. I worked in public libraries and in the private sector before working for a decade in a university library. I then changed direction by taking a degree in mathematics and statistics which led to my current position. I am married with two sons. My leisure activities include swimming and amateur dramatics.

I believe that Labour is the only party working to create a society that’s fair for everyone. I am particularly concerned about protecting public services – attacked for so long by Tory austerity policies –  and tackling the housing shortage.

Martin Pain – Independent

Putting Melksham first, I’m standing as your independent candidate for Melksham Central town and county elections.  Born in Trowbridge as one of 11 children I grew up in peaceful beautiful Wiltshire. I’m married to Dr. Mary Du Pain and father of six children.

I served in the army in two active service arenas. I spent the majority of my professional life working for an international project management company where I gained considerable experience in finance and managing major international projects. I retired as group executive chairman having learnt a great deal about people management and team building.

Since then I’ve been putting these skills to good use in Melksham as a community activist promoting the need to overcome loneliness especially in an ageing society, campaigning for better NHS and care service delivery whilst striving to improve the quality of life for all ages in our diverse community.

David Pollitt – UKIP

I am married with two children and  have been self employed for nearly 30 years,  27 of those years living and working in Melksham.

In 2013 I was elected as the first UKIP Councillor on Wiltshire Council where I remain as the sole UKIP representative, so I know what it is like to be ignored and treated with contempt by a remote, out of touch, ruling elite.

I believe politicians, at all levels, are there to serve the people, not their party or their masters in Westminster. We need local matters decided by local people. UKIP as the ‘common sense’ party understands and acts for the people. We believe in democracy, equality and fairness, ideals lacking in the old establishment parties.

Hayley Spencer – Liberal Democrat

I live, work and raises my family in Melksham. My interests and passions are maintaining and enhancing our town centre and events to benefit all ages: children, families and those with unique hobbies!

In addition, the health and wellbeing of families within the community is paramount to me – a supportive network that helps people easily care for their loved ones in the best possible way is key to happy lives.

As a Town Councillor I have already implemented Smoke-Free signs in Melksham play areas, and plan to work hard to widen this initiative, as well as work with families to make Melksham a proud place to call home.

Mike Swanton – Conservative

I have lived in Melksham with my family since 1992, although my wife was born in Melksham and grew up in Littlejohn Avenue. My children have all gone through Melksham schools, where I was chair of governors for more than 10 years of what was Lowbourne Infants School.

In 2006, I joined the Chippenham bench as a magistrate where I now serve as a Wiltshire Magistrate due to the amalgamation of the courts. I work locally in the town where I meet many of the residents in and around where I live.

Having taken a keen interest in the town and its development I have been pleased with the results so far. We have one of the best Christmas lights displays and with the completion of the Market Place we will see the results of all the planning and forward thinking of what I hope to be part with your help of on May 4th.

Melksham South

Jon Hubbard – Liberal Democrat

I was elected onto Wiltshire Council in 2009 and have served as the Area Board Chair for 2 years and been Chair of the Children’s Select Committee, Chair of the Melksham Local Youth Network and also on numerous other committees at County Hall. I also sit on the national County Council’s Network and on a national LGA task group looking at the future of children’s social care improvement.

In Melksham I am well known for my work with children and young people, reopening the Canberra Youth Centre and fighting for the council to increase the frequency of grass cutting in the park and cemetery. I successfully got new crossing points on Snowberry Lane and Queensway and the new 20mph limit in the Kenilworth estate.

I have also campaigned hard to get essential repairs on roads in the area such as Spa Road. Many people will recognise me from helping with the Speedwatch Team on Snowberry Lane that I started several years ago.

Mike Sankey – Conservative

I have been a member of Melksham Without Parish council for over ten years,  During that time I have served as a trustee of Melksham charities, who, in addition to supporting local groups, look after and administer the Almshouses opposite the Avon rubber factory.

I have also been a member of the shadow community operations board working to consult and advise on the long overdue Melksham Campus.

Melksham is a great town with lots to offer and lots of potential.

I think there is a lot more development likely in and around Melksham, and as I have a keen interest in local planning, I hope to be elected to Wiltshire Council so I can help ensure that any future development  delivers the necessary infrastructure, (roads, Doctors, schools etc), to support new and existing residents alike.

I am keen to listen to and deliver the aspirations that all residents have for our great town.

Melksham Without North

Phil Alford – Conservative

I was first elected to West Wilts District Council 10 years ago. This experience, combined with 13 years as a science teacher and 10 as a parent have taught me that it is no good complaining endlessly and blaming the world’s problems on everyone else. The only way we can make a difference is to get involved and work with people to solve our problems.

As such I have been working to better our villages and town. I’ve set up the successful campaign group Melksham and villages pothole watch, fought the Woodrow Road development, campaigned to ensure social housing prioritises local people, am fighting for a bypass and working for better social care as well as much more.

I now want to take these priorities to Wiltshire Council and make sure that I can shape our future services so that they work for our community and not regardless of it.

Terry Chivers – Independent

I was first elected to the Council in the mid 80s. I have lived in the area all of my life, and come from a long established local family that has lived in the area since the 1500s. I am a former Chairman of West Wilts District Council, chairman of the housing committee and a long standing member of Melksham Without Parish Council.

As an independent, I feel that I can always put residents before party politics. Over the last four years I have campaigned against cuts to local services and eye-watering increases in local council tax.

I have fought against unwanted development in and around our local community, and the axing of the funding of the RUH Hopper Bus to name just two.

As an independent, I will be fighting for a fair deal for local residents that includes local services that residents can afford.

Melksham Without South

Paul Carter – UKIP

I am Melksham born and bred (1950) and worked most of my life in our town. Of course I am biased, but I love living in the town and the people that make it such a good place to live, so I understand why so many want to live in our town.

My interest in the wellbeing of our town started many years ago but it is only in the last four years that I have had the privilege to serve you as a member of your parish council.

Town and parish councillors are your first port of call when you need something doing and it is our job to represent your interests first. I am standing in the Berryfield Parish Ward and the Unitary Division for Melksham Without South, and am asking for your endorsement to continue to put the interests of the people of Melksham first.

Ryan Clarke – Liberal Democrat

Having moved to Melksham 13 years ago, I have seen many of the successes of the Liberal Democrat-led town council. For me it is so important that this continues. I feel we are luckier than we often realise, to live in a town like this.

Our town council works so hard to maintain the look and feel of our vibrant market town, from summer flowers to the annual carnival, and  supporting community groups and youth projects. This is what I am passionate about, making sure ordinary people’s voices are heard and that we all get a say in the continued improvements to  the town we call home. Taking back control of our park, the paddling pool, rebuilding the skate park and the campus project, are all things I want to work hard to protect and improve upon for residents, and why I would like you to vote for me to be your town councillor.

Steve Petty – Independent

I have lived in Bowerhill and Berryfield for the best part of forty years. Previous to that I lived in Melksham town.

I have been a member of Melksham Without Parish Council for about 17 years and previously served on Wiltshire Council from 2009 to 2013.

I am proud to belong to and support many other local community based groups and organisations, both in the town, and in the parish.

I believe in having a voice that represents the community at Wiltshire Council and the only    way of achieving that is   to stand as an INDEPENDENT.

If you vote for one of the political party members, you may get the view of the party and not necessarily that of the local community.

Roy While – Conservative

I feel privileged to have been your local Wiltshire councillor and have worked with fellow councillors and officers successfully coping with the various challenges that constantly arise.

I have been able to draw on my extensive work experience in finance and management in the public service.

It is not all work and no play, my hobbies include gardening, watching football and reading crime novels. My wife and I have lived on Bowerhill for the last 24 years.

I want to continue helping to tackle the many challenges that lie ahead. The lack of adequate infrastructure for the planned housing developments are causing concerns as are the problems with health services.

For me the icing on the cake is listening and helping, when I can, with local problems as and when they arise.