Local unitary council elections
As a non partisan organisation, we would invite any members of the main parties or independent candidates standing for the forthcoming elections, to take this opportunity in voicing what you would do differently than your political opponents. You might also want to write posts giving an indication, if you are elected, what you would hope to do in council chambers that would have a significant influence in making changes to, what many think, to be a rigid, non progressive and stagnant system. For the main party candidates, please don’t just quote from your manifesto, as we get enough of that through our letter boxes and on very rare occasions, our front door steps. It would be refreshing to get some new and original insights and opinions from prospective candidates, who just might show evidence of that spark, that progressive thinking, which we believe is sadly lacking in local government institutions. Please post anything that would make readers of this blog stop, think and remark ‘ you know that’s new, that’s original, this person appears to have the ability to imagine a better way of doing things and just might get my vote’. The very best of luck!
About Author
The Conservative and Green parties were invited to submit posts on the forthcoming Unitary elections and as yet have declined to participate.
Sadly neither the Conservative or Green candidates chose to avail themselves of the opportunity to express their views on this occasion.
Hello, I am Nick Errington and I am standing as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Tisbury in the Wiltshire Council elections on May 6.
I joined the Lib Dems four years ago as I was attracted by their values of fairness and tolerance at a time when the country was drifting to more extreme viewpoints.
I am new to political campaigning and believe I can offer a fresh, new voice to Tisbury at county level. I have lived in the village for several years and absolutely love living in the area. I particularly value the beauty of the countryside and the natural world of the Nadder Valley but also the strong sense of community evident in Tisbury. I have a passion for getting things done and for helping others and I am active in the community, volunteering for Tisbury Link service, serving on the committee of the Arts Society Nadder Valley and a long-standing member and leader for Tisbury Footpath Club. I also recently joined Tisbury Parish Council. My campaign priorities are around protecting our precious green spaces around the village, now under threat from the developers thanks to Wiltshire Council’s failure to maintain a 5-year land supply but I also recognise the need for affordable local housing for families that have lived here for generations and who now find themselves unable to afford a home in their native village. To this end I have recently joined the Nadder Community Land Trust which seeks to ensure that all new developments include adequate, affordable housing to meet local need.
I also recognise the Climate Emergency and have been passionate about the environment since childhood, having been a member of WWF and Friends of the Earth over the years. Wiltshire Liberal Democrats led the motion for calling a climate emergency in Wiltshire in 2019, despite much Conservative opposition, including locally. However, there has been too much inaction by the Conservative administration in Wiltshire and the clock is ticking. The Liberal Democrats have a strong manifesto to tackle the crisis.
Most importantly though I want to be a voice for Tisbury and its residents and to do what I can to improve lives in the area.
Congratulations Nick on being elected as Tisbury’s councillor on to Wiltshire’s unitary council. Tisbury as other wards need strong voices and actions in the council chambers, more especially by people who become councillors for the right reasons. Reluctance to express an opposite view than party doctrine leading to inaction, is deplorable and this country has seen its fair share of this in party politics. I believe those who represent the people who voted them into office, have a duty to do all that they can within the framework of a governmental system but at times questioning whether that system is all that it can be; whether it is outdated, inefficient, wasteful and more importantly provides a quality service to those who pay for it, via their direct taxation and council tax.