Reassurance for residents (From Gazette Series)

Reassurance for residents

DURSLEY residents will have to rely on two Cam councillors to represent them at county council level.

Voters went to the polls in the new Cam and Dursley ward last Thursday to elect two councillors.

This was a change from previous years where one councillor was elected separately from each.

Objections were made by both Dursley Town Council and Cam Parish Council as well as the other smaller parish councils when the electoral boundaries were altered to form the new area.

Councillors and members of the public feared a scenario where either Cam or Dursley could be perceived as underrepresented and the speculation has become a reality.

Cllr Margaret Nolder (Lab), who retained her seat after previously representing the Cam ward, said the situation was obvious from the outset.

"Neither Dursley or Cam or the outlying parishes wanted this change," she said, "They all wrote to the Boundary Commission to say as much."

Cllr Dennis Andrewartha (Lib Dem), the other successful candidate in the election, called on the public to write to the commission to highlight the problem that had been created.

However, both councillors were quick to reassure residents of Dursley and the surrounding villages that they would be fully committed to serving the whole of the electorate.

Cllr Andrewartha added: "I think it could cement the ever increasing relationship between Cam, Dursley and the outlying communities.

"We are already tied by Vale Vision, Rednock School and Littlecombe. I am looking forward to carrying out my duties."

As someone who grew up in Dursley, Cllr Nolder said that she would do her utmost to represent everyone in her new area as much as she had in her old one.

"I am determined to do as much as I can for the whole area," she added, "People know that I have a great desire to work hard for them."

The new Mayor of Dursley, Cllr Jane Ball, who is a Cam resident herself, was confident that the town would not lose out.

She said: "They are both very experienced councillors and they will work very hard for the town.

"I am sure they would not have stood for election if they were not prepared to put the work in."

Former Dursley member Geoff Wheeler (Lab), who lost his seat to Cllr Andrewartha, said it had been a pleasure to serve the town.

He said: "I have found it to be a very enjoyable experience."