Newport South and East ward candidates

Five candidates, two seats available.

Some candidates who belong to the same party chose to submit a combined manifesto.

Eric Carter (incumbent) and Emma Thomas, Conservative

Your vote can secure Newport’s green spaces, repair our roads and pavements and protect our fire service and police. OUR PLAN FOR A BETTER NEWPORT IS DELIVERING. Labour and the Liberal Democrats’ only plan is to take more of your hard-earned money – money allocated to Newport by the Conservatives – and give it to Telford.

Being local from Newport, the things that matter to you also matter to us: We work with residents to identify the worst pavements and potholes, report them and get them fixed. We are tackling speeding and dangerous crossing points with success on Station Road, and Eric has led calls for civil parking enforcement to be adopted, preventing illegal and dangerous parking, particularly around our schools.

Eric, as the chair of the Fire Authority, has already led the work against the fire authority merger, which is opposed by 78% of residents. Emma is in ongoing discussions with the Police and Crime Commissioner to increase visible police presence in Newport. We have stood up against the development in Station Road for more housing because we want everyone to be able to enjoy our green fields, not just turn them into housing. With your support we can do so much more to make Newport better.

Thomas Janke, Liberal Democrat

Newport gets a raw deal: Not enough police; Not enough parking; A&E closure. It is time to demand better. I want to give our town a strong voice.

I live in Newport. I see the issues for myself as I go about getting the kids to school, getting to work, and popping into town. My service in Iraq taught me that actions speak louder than words. Since becoming a town councillor two years ago, I have listened to residents’ concerns and acted on them: Potholes filled; New streetlights; New drop kerbs. Small things, often ignored, but they make a big difference to people living in those streets.

My three priorities are driven by conversations with residents over the past two years: Parking – action to free up town centre spaces (whilst always remaining free of charge); A&E – continue to fight against the closures of Princess Royal’s A&E and Women’s and Children’s Unit; Police – fight for Newport’s fair share of police on the ground.

This isn’t just a job for me – it’s a passion. I love our town and I won’t see it sold short. Please vote for me on May 2 if you, too, demand better for Newport.

Tom King, Labour

Tom is seeking your support as candidate for the borough council in Newport South and East.

Tom is currently a Newport Town Councillor and has been at the forefront of local community projects, from Dementia Friendly Newport, Sustainable and Plastic-Free Newport, volunteering at and supporting Newport Foodbank and taking to the streets to march in support of Combat Stress veterans and staff.

Tom’s priorities are fighting to retain our 24/7 A&E department and Women’s and Children’s services at the Princess Royal Hospital, protecting and enhancing much-loved community assets, such as the Scout Hut and Navy Club, ensuring that the new Innovation Park provides high-quality jobs for local people, and developing much stronger links between our community and Harper Adams University.

He is keen that local residents’ views are listened to at every level of decision-making. Councillors are elected to represent their residents and Tom believes that it is important that all decisions are taken with you in mind.

At a time of devastating government cuts it’s crucial that Newport South and East is represented by somebody with fresh, new ways of thinking and who is prepared to work hard for their community for the whole term, not just at election time. If elected, Tom King will work hard on your behalf.

Sarah Syrda, Liberal Democrat

Hi, I’m Sarah. I am standing for the borough in Newport South and East, and for the town council in Newport East.

I live in Newport with my husband, Paul, and two young children, who go to school in our town. I think waking up in Newport every morning, and having exactly the same issues as those I seek to represent is really important.

My priorities for Newport are:

• Police – we simply don’t see enough officers in Newport, and none of the new West Mercia officers will be stationed here. It is excellent that the town council helps to fund a PSCO and I support this continuing. But we are also campaigning for Newport to get more of the officers we already fund through our council tax.

• Parking – you just can’t find a space! It must stay free of charge, but we need action to free up spaces for shoppers.

• Our hospital – we won’t give up the fight against the closure of the A&E and Women and Children’s Centre at Princess Royal.

If you demand better for Newport, please vote for me in the South and East ward on May 2 (and in the East ward for the town council).