Let's have a poll, village is urged (From Gazette Series)

Let's have a poll, village is urged

RETIREMENT of community representatives with a combined contribution of almost a century will leave a massive void for Kingswood Parish Council.

Announcing his retirement to the village during last week's annual parish meeting, Cllr David Hatton urged residents to come forward to initiate an election.

And, with up to four other councillors possibly retiring, only two of present members - Cllr Paul Hemming and Cllr Norman Ward - could remain in June.

"When this council was elected five years ago it brought with it a very good blend of local knowledge," said Cllr Hatton. "It is important the village has an election - it makes a phenomenal difference in the ability of villagers to make choices. Each elected member would get the endorsement of 250 people with an election. This would be reduced to two people if no election were required."

Cllr Hatton, who has served for 31 years, is among three long-serving councillors not standing.

Cllr Jack Terrett, a member for 34 years, and Cllr Naomi Benson, on the council for 28 years, are also quitting.

Cllr Terrett, 78, said he would like to see some younger people involved.

"I do think the village will have a job to get people standing," he said. "Things have changed and people tend to work away from the village a lot now."

Cllr Benson said a lot had changed since she joined the council.

"It would be nice to see someone younger and more energetic take on the role," she agreed. "The paperwork has trebled since I started. But I have really enjoyed my time and will try to pop along to the monthly meetings when I get a chance."

Cllr Hatton, chairman for 13 years, paid tribute to the help and guidance from the parish clerk, staing: "Throughout my time on the council I have been helped by the skill and hard work of Cath Holmes and I would like to thank her for all the work she has done on our behalf."

Cllr Hatton said there had been a lot of developments in the village since he joined the council.

"When I started there was no village hall and little play equipment," he explained. "Somethings never change though - cuttings from newspapers from the first few months of the 1973 council report show in that year residents were deeply concerned over speed in the village!"

Nominations close next Thursday and Kingswood Parish Council is looking for seven members.

Relative newcomers Cllr Mike Rousseau and Cllr Rachael Wilkins, who joined the council after the last election five years ago, may also be resigning their positions.

Mrs Holmes confirmed she has had eight requests for nomination forms but she is uncertain at this stage whether other existing members will be standing in June.

HILLESLEY and Tresham Parish Council is also up for re-election this year.

Cllr Lesley Cooke is retiring after nine years as a member and chairman for five. She said she believes it is time for new blood.

She said: "I think after a while you do get a bit stale and it is time for some fresh ideas.

Cllr Cooke, who represents Tresham, said she has seen some important developments in the villages during her time as a councillor.

"We have improved the bus situation in Tresham as at one point the bus service was under threat," she explained. "We also renovated the Hillesley allotments which had fallen into a very bad state of repair and I have been able to help in Tresham when we had real problems with BT."

Cllr Cooke added that she has noticed a marked increase in the amount of paperwork and that not having a parish clerk had been a difficult time for the council.

"Having a reliable clerk is so important and before Alwyn Vaughan started last July it had been a real strain for myself and fellow councillors."

A total of seven councillors are needed for Hillesley and Tresham - five for Hillesley and two in Tresham.

The other Tresham member, Cllr Angela Hares, and two Hillesley councillors, Pam Stanley and Richard Davis, are also quitting their posts.

Stroud District Council spokesman David Marshall said elections for parish councils will only take place where seats are contested.

"If not enough nominations come in, there will be no elections and those nominated will automatically take up office."

CAMPAIGNING will soon begin ahead of district, parish and town council elections in June.

A third of Stroud District Council seats are up for election this year, with 17 of the 51 elected members facing electoral battles.

Ahead of the closing date for nomiations next Thursday, all members in wards in the Dursley and Wotton-under-Edge districts have already decided that they will be standing for re-election.

A spokesman for Stroud Conservative Association confirmed existing members Cllr Ben Francis (Berkeley) and Cllr Norman Smith (Severn) would be standing for re-election.

In Dursley Cllr Hilary Fowles (Lab) has said she would be fighting to retain her seat.

Liberal Democrat members Cllr Chris Galbraith (Wotton) and Cllr Paul Hemming (Kingswood) have been adopted as candidates for the party in their wards.

Nominations for both the district and parish elections close at 4pm on Thursday, May 13.

Voting, where necessary, will be on Thursday, June 10 when European Parliament members will also be chosen.