Bye-election Lickhill Ward

Peter Dolman · Bye-election Lickhill Ward

There will be a bye election on March 12th to elect a new town councillor to replace John Ireland who resigned over the 33% increase in the town precept.

What issues do you thing will be raised during the election?

Candidates have yet to be announced by any of the political parties, but I will post them as soon as I have the details.

Chepfer

Are you standing Peter ?!

Peter Dolman

No but I will be standing in the Unitary Authority elections on June 4th.

Chepfer

OK. Well good luck.

Are you standing as an independant ?

I thought it was only already elected district councillors that cold stand ?!

Peter Dolman

No anyone can stand for election to the unitary authority as long as you can obtain enough voters to propose and second you. The same as for any election.

I am and always have been a Liberal (Democrat) and will be standing as such. There have been to many people who stand as independants and as soon as they are elected reveal their true "colours". I am happy to stick to my principles and let everyone know what they are.

LFC

Peter,

Although I have voted Lib Dem in the past and would be happy to vote for you in the election, it does make me feel a little uneasy.

My problem is that when the town precept was set I looked to see if the parties let their members have a free vote or if they voted along party lines. It seems the Lib Dem’s all voted for the increase, the UKIP all voted against and the Conservatives (in my opinion they were naive) either did not turn up or had a free vote.

If you say you would not have voted along party lines then why stand for any party?

Peter Dolman

The vote on the town precept was a free vote and while it does look like the Lib Dems voted enbloc that was far from the case. The finance committee is conservative "controlled" in so far as they have the most councillors on that committee.
The mayor (UKIP) also on that committee did not vote either way for what ever reason.
Councillor Alan Hill (con) also a finance committee member spoke passionately for the budget but when it came to the vote he abstained which seems a bit odd! I am aware that he persuaded several Lib Dems to vote for it. The vote was recorded and completed in alphabetical order and when he came to vote it was to the total surprise to many councilllors from all parties when he failed to support the budget.
The finance committe met a week before the vote as their original budget proposal was for an increase of 85% but this was watered down (thank goodness).

I cannot defend the increase who ever voted for it and the councillors who did will need to defend themselves irrespective of the party concerned.

I was elected in 2003 after campaigning against a 32% increase in the town precept and I would have voted against in this case on a matter of principle.

I do believe that all councillors vote for what they believe is best for the town contrary to popular belief. Of course with hindsight it sometimes turns out not to be benificial eg the 1999/2003 councils decision to introduce the traffic calming in Curzon Street!

Peter Dolman

The deadline for candidates to lodge their papers for this election has now past. It will be a 2 horse race with only the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives putting forward.

The Lib Dem candidate is a Chris Dobbie, I have yet to have confirmed the full details of the Conservative but will report back when received.

Peter Dolman

The Conservative candidate is a Greg Widger, who is the son-in-law of Councillor Alan Hill (Conservative) Town & District councills.

Peter Dolman

Am I the only one to contribute to this thread who lives in the Lickhill Ward, the biggest in the town. If I am not and I suspect that is the case what do you think about the campaigns of the 2 candidates?

Are you getting enough information?
Are you seeing the candidates to talk to?
Would you be interested in seeing a "head to head" debate between the candidates as seen in the America presidential elections?

This is an important bye election coming as it does before the EU and Unitary Authority elections on June 4th. Effectively a trial run for the Cons & Lib Dems.

Someone must have an opinion or does voter apathy rule!!!!!!!!

rosco

Will this by-election have a significant impact on the council? I suspect not, which might explain the apathy about it.

Peter Dolman

Rosco bearing in mind that this council voted to keep themselves in office untill 2013 instead of 2011 every bye election is important.
Its the only way the electorate can make their thoughts known to the councillors in a way to change their minds (hopefully).

Chepfer

Greg Widger would be a good candidate.

He grew up in Hungerford road, has lived here all his life and is of an age (thirties) that can represent and be understood by many generations !

I'm not sure who Chris dobbie is but i presume he is of the same Ilk ?!

Peter Dolman

Chris lives on the new estate and is 30. He has only lived in the town for some 3 or 4 years but has been involved in local (the new estate) issues mostly to do with Persimmons lack of committment to resolving problems with their shoddy house building.

He has a sister who has lived in the town for many years and who persuaded him to move to Calne because its a great place to live.
Chris is very keen to be involved in the town and sees the chance to represent residents of his area as a opportunity to do so.

Peter Dolman

The latest phamplet from the conservatives indicates that they were instrumental in the reopening of the leisure centre.

This is far from the truth, the original group under the Calne Leisure Action Group (CLAG) agreed from the start that politics would not be allowed to interfer with the process. The leisure centre being an asset for all irrespective of race, creed politics etc.

It is therefore disappointing that they have decided to make the claims they have.

Politicians should be honest and truthfull, to gain the respect of the voters, in all things!

kathy27

Peter Dolman

Why do you find it amusing?

Surely we all expect the people who represent use to be honest and truefull?

kathy27

Yes peter i would expect that, however Politicians and honest and truthfull dont really go in the same sentance!

sad but true, they come to the door to try and get your vote, promise the world then if they do get in, they do just as they please.

Peter Dolman

As someone who is currently canvassing for votes and will be again leading up to the June 4th elections, I feel that it is unfair to "tar everyone with the same brush".
I hear complaints (ON THIS SITE) that politicians are too aloof and are not available to the public but when they are out and about (ok looking for votes) thats also wrong.
Judging from the comments made to me over the last week or so there are many voters out there with issues. Some are common to many but some only to 1 person. It is not always possible to resolve them because of costs but quite often is not within the powers of the town council.
Many prople are just pleased that someone has taken the time to knock on their door and shown some interest even if it is once every 4 years.
I attended the Town Councils Amenities meeting last night, the only member of the public there. There was only just enough councillors attending for it to continue.
I was there because of comments made to me while out canvassing. The issues raised by me was the lack of action by the council in building the proposed kiddies playground on the North End playing field and the request by the Helicopter Club for a secure storage facility on the Show Field.

Any one can attend any of the councils meeting and ask questions or just make a statement. If there are that many unhappy voters out there why are the council meeting not swamped by voters complaining?

GTB

It used to annoy me when I was on our local Social Club committee and people would be constantly moaning about facilities or entertainments or the price of beer. The quickest way of shutting them up was to ask them to join the committee to put their obvious drive and input directly into the Club so they can make the amendments. I think in the 6 years I was on the committee not one person took up the offer.

People seem happy to sit back and have a gripe at every issue under the sun without actually doing anything themselves. I know this is their democratic right but sometimes it really narks me to listen to some of these people, especially when they contradict themselves over certain politics/issues. Hypocrisy also creeps into some of these voters debates. I think we, as the general public, should be extremely grateful for local councillors who have the passion and drive to get up off their backside and actually do something for their community rather than sit back and watch the world go by.

Peter Dolman

Well GTB perhaps you should be looking to stand for election in 2013 when the next town council elections are due. If you are a little intrigued I recommend attending one of the council meeting and if that does not put you off go for it!

rosco

Local lass

The one thing that really dissapoints me with politics is there is far to much red tape turning a simple job in to a complicated one when it dosnt need to be.
the main problem is that most people could not give a toss on what happens in there town and dosnt feel passionate enough to do anything unless the situation directly effects them.
which is wrong.

Peter Dolman

My original question asked what issues are there affecting Lickhill Ward (the biggest ward in the town). Either no one from the ward is using this site or there are no issues.

One issue that I have highlighted and that I am pressing the council to resolve is the delay in building a new childrens playground, to replace the old one in Bremhill View, on the playing field by the North Star Club. The plans and £45,000 was set up back in 2006 but nothing has happened.

The council are looking to build similar facilities for older children and teenagers but need to raise more money. Unfortunately this may take anything up to 2 years and in the mean time the childrens playground is not built.

If you want the childrens playground built now the ring 01249 814000 and tell the council what you want.
Councillor Colin Viner is the chair of the amenities committee who has the responsibilty for playgrounds his contact details can be found on the town councils web site
www.calne.gov.uk

Local lass

so whats wrong with the play equipment at the football club which is owned by the council?which has also just been re done.
why are councilours hell bent on building anything on any space why not leave it as it is .?

Peter Dolman

the equipment at the Bremhill View Social club consists of 2 swings and 2 small sit on bouncy items. the other items we taken away some time ago having been condemned as unsafe.
There are no new pieces of equipment at least not when I walked past there on Monday.
No work has been carried out there to my knowledge.

Local lass

so why not replace what is taken and leave the feild alone.

Peter Dolman

Well for a start the playground was originally in the playing field. We had a slide (I remember it being very high), roundabout, 2 sets of swings and other pieces of equipment. So its "going home"

Secondly there is not a lot of space by the social club, they could do with extra parking space.

The proposed moved is best all round.

Chepfer

Hi Peter,

Yes thats a little naughty of the cons in terms of a political sense.

But i do no for sure that one conservative was actively involved in helping you re - set up the centre, though maybe in a non political role, he did help (TT) !.

Local lass

Peter Dolman

Roscoe yes he was involved in the background kindly provided goods to refurbish the leisure centre. Due to constraint he was unable to do more, but what he did was very much appreciated. The are plagues on the stairwell which acknowledges all those individuals and businesses that supported the work. Its worth looking as I am sure some of the names would be surprising.

Not sure how much space it would take up but spread out around the edge there would be enough room for a football pitch.

Peter Dolman

The result of the bye-election in Calne Lickhill Ward was as follows:

Chris Dobbie (Lib Dem) 477
Greg Widger (Con) 282

Chris Dobbie elected to Calne Town Council with a majority of 195 votes.

The turnout was 23.9%

There was 3 spoilt ballot papers.

Yet again another poor turnout to elect a Town Councillor!

pimpdriver

All I got was a leaflet through the door from Greg Widger, in the week. That was the first I heard about it.

As I said before, you should have signs as you come into Calne (like a giant noticeboard) saying "elections on Thursday 12th March".

Peter Dolman

I can only apoligise, as one of some 20 people who have been delivering leaflets throughout the ward for 4 weeks leading up to election day for the Lib Dems I don't understand how we could have missed you!

Chuck · Election

Well Done to both candidates for putting up and of course a big high five to Chris for being elected. All Town councillors do a great job even though I am a Conservative, party politics should not really have a big influence on who does what and why?

Since Peter has mentioned I ought to add that I am expecting to stnad in the Unitary Elections on June 4th it would be great to put through a strong Calne Team and I will happily throw my lot in with anyone who is pro Calne for any Calne based issue, providing it has strong local support.

Well done those who voted for either candidate my small biut of canvassing showed that the 'don't vote' category had it by a long way which is pretty sad. Mind you all Councillors are accessible whether you voted or not so you can always take part after the fact.

This a a great little town and we will need a big voice to get the best for us over the rest of Wiltshire. I am sure we can all work together with a bit of humility (and humanity) which is what we need.

Be prepared for a few more bits of paper over the next few weeks we will all be trying to help Calne residents see who will work best for the town.

Cheers,

Chuck

Peter Dolman

Chuck, I understand that you will be standing for the Calne North ward.
This is the ward that I shall also be standing in.

www.calnetalk.com therefore has a first in the upcoming Unitary Authority elections with 2 candidates already regular contributors to this excellant site.

Chepfer

Good luck to both of you.

Shame your both on the same ward though, as it would have been nice to have had 2 councillors on here from different wards.

Chuck · Good luck Peter

Peter good luck in your North Calne bid - I will, of course be trying hard as well. Hey but at the end of the day as long as we get someone who will look after Calne and specifically Calne North then it will be good.

I expect I 'll see you on the streets of Calne

Cheers,

Chuck

Top Dog

Good luck to you both.

Peter Dolman

Good luck to you as well Chuck.
How about a question and answer session say at the North Star Club or Bremhill View Social Club. We could invite the other candidates to take part.
Perhaps it could be promoted by this site, how about it Top Dog.

Top Dog

Peter Dolman

Yes but not everyone does!

How about it are you prepared to act as an independant (assuming you are) promoter of such an event?

Top Dog

What would you like us to do?

Chuck · Q and A

No worries on that would be happy we really should make sure the others and there will be a few I guess are invited as well.

Tough though because we will not really know what we can promise just what we can work towards and support.

But let me know I'm up for that.

Thanks,

Chuck

Peter Dolman

A series of question and answer sessions as done on tele with candidates from the 5 Calne wards being invited to attend. With open questions from the floor. It would need an impartial, strong MC to control the whole thing.

It would give those standing a chance to express their views and it would give the electorate the chance to hear and see how effective the candidates are!

Some of the current town councillors would rather crawl from here to hell and back I suspect!

Top Dog

Bye-election Lickhill Ward

Election

Good luck Peter

Q and A