Apathy rules in Nailsea for town council election

North Somerset Council electoral officer released today, Wednesday, the names of the candidates standing for parish and town councils in our area.

There must have been a coup d'état in Nailsea because none of the candidates have declared their political allegiances.

Perhaps they have all decided that party politics have no place at the parish pump.

But it is apathy that rules as in Nailsea and Wraxall because not enough people have come forward to fill all the seats.

Some say this is because it is a thankless task with little reward and no pay.

This hardly bodes well for Prime Minister David Cameron’s vision of a Big Society.

The upshot of this means there will be no town or parish council elections in Nailsea or Wraxall and the first job of the new councils will be to fill the vacancies.

This will probably be by co-option – if we can find anyone, said Chris Ambrose, current chairman at Wraxall and Failand.

In Backwell husband and wife team Colin and Shirley-Ann Pope are seeking re-election despite having recently retired to Wick St Lawrence.

Councillors have to live or work within three miles of a parish but a position on a parish council can be deemed as a ‘job’.

Polling day is Thursday, May 6, at the same time as the district council elections.

BACKWELL 15 seats

Mo BOWERMAN, Cider House, Backwell Common

Basil BUCKNELL, 20 Oakleigh Close, Backwell

Robert DAY, 23 Amberlands Close, Backwell

Michelle GIBBONS-PRICE, 9 Westfield Close, Backwell,

Brian HUGGINS, 76 Church Lane, Backwell

Joan LLEWELLYN, 37 Oakleigh Close, Backwell

Rita MASON, 5 Westfield Close, Backwell

Kath MERRYWEATHER, 2 Robinson Close, Backwell

Sarah-Anne OULD, Sideway Cottage, 119 Farleigh Road, Backwell

Chris PERRY, 48 Church Lane, Backwell,

Colin POPE, Anja, 9 Myrtleberry Mead, Wick St Lawrence

Shirley-Anne POPE, Anja, 9 Myrtleberry Mead, Wick St Lawrence

Derek SPARKS, 1 Station Close, Backwell

Bob  TAYLOR, 9 Combeside, Backwell

Joy THEIS, 21 St Marys Grove, Nailsea

Roger THEIS 21 St Marys Grove, Nailsea

 

NAILSEA – GOLDEN VALLEY WARD four seats

Robin BELL, 22 White Oak Way, Nailsea

David PACKHAM, 17 Bucklands View, Nailsea

Mary PONSONBY, 19 Cleeve Place, Nailsea

John WILSON, 21 Four Acres Close, Nailsea

 

NAILSEA – MIZZYMEAD WARD four seats

Jeremy BLATCHFORD, 39 Hazelbury Road, Nailsea

Anita HEAPPEY, Wareham Lodge, 71 Whitesfield Road, Nailsea

Ann TONKIN, 8 Blakeney Grove, Nailsea

James TONKIN, 8 Blakeney Grove, Nailsea,

 

NAILSEA – WEST END WARD four seats

Helen HAMBLIN, 9 Ash Hayes Drive, Nailsea

Anne KEMP, 10 Hawthorn Way, Nailsea,

Valerie SMITH, 12 Morgans Hill Close,Nailsea

 

NAILSEA YEO WARD four seats

Phil BARCLAY, 12 Beechwood Road, Nailsea

Mary BLATCHFORD, 39 Hazelbury Road, Nailsea

Liz FRAPPELL, Orchard Cottage, 57 Silver Street, Nailsea

Jane HOLT, 31 Yeomead, Nailsea

 

NAILSEA – YOUNGWOOD WARD

Jan BARBER, 9 Shipham Close, Nailsea,

Clare HUNT, 16 Morgans Hill Close, Nailsea

Rod LEES, 9 Bude Close, Nailsea,

 

WRAXALL AND FAILAND 11 seats

Richard DELMAS, 20 Elm Lodge Road, Wraxall

Richard KING, 1 Failand Estate, Sandy Lane, Lower Failand

Martin LAW, Little Hill House, Ham Lane, Wraxall

Gillian MOON, 7 Woodland Way, Failand,

Hugh PRATT, 14 Rushmore Lane, Backwell

David ROBINSON, 43 Elm Lodge Road, Wraxall

Thomas SAGE, Lower Failand Farm, Failand

Patricia SHAW, 57 Clevedon Road, Failand,

Robert SHEPPARD, Shornmead, The Paddock,Horse Race Lane, Lower Failand

Jonathan THOMPSON, 2 Wayside, Clevedon Road, West Hill, Wraxall