Park ward candidates

Three candidates, one seat available.

Pat Fairclough, Liberal Democrat

As a Liberal Democrat town councillor for Wellington, I have felt it necessary to attend and campaign on behalf of the Princess Royal Hospital during this year’s Future Fit Consultation. Telford is one of the fastest-growing towns in the West Midlands, if not the whole of the UK, and to have its A&E department under threat of closure is quite unacceptable.

If the A&E department goes then so does the Maternity and Children’s Ward, a very new and welcome addition to the hospital. The demographic profile of Telford surely obviates against this proposed closure.

Working with the community groups in Wellington has been most rewarding. The Arts Festival that grew out of the Literary Festival brings a twice-yearly programme of events organised by the committee of the Town Council. I look forward to further developments now that the Orbit Arts Centre is being built in the centre of the town. It has been supported by the community, the town council and Telford and Wrekin Council. This will be an important addition to the regeneration of Wellington Town Centre.

John Thompson, Labour

John Thompson is seeking your support as candidate for the borough council in Park ward.

John previously served as councillor between 2011 and 2015 and is passionate about Park ward, always diligently serving the residents. He has previously been involved in many projects within the ward and worked hard to make many improvements including improving the roads, footpaths, installation of litter bins, repair of street lights, reducing fly tipping, installation of new street signs and tackling the Park ward flooding issue.

John’s main priorities are fighting to retain 24/7 A&E at the Princess Royal Hospital, ensuring that further investment in Park ward roads and footpaths is delivered and the regeneration of Wellington is realised. He has already started to lobby the council to secure safety improvements to the route to Wrekin View and St Patrick’s Schools.

He is keen to see that priority is given to the views of local residents particularly given the last four years of very poor representation from the current councillor.

During this time when government cuts are becoming deeper it’s important your local councillor works hard lobbying for Park ward and bringing people together to get things done. If elected, John Thompson will work hard on your behalf.

Barry Tillotson, Conservative (incumbent)

For the last four years I have had the honour of representing the Park ward on the borough council. I have been proud to help members of our community who have encountered problems. These have ranged from the minor, of council trees hanging over other people’s property, to the sublime, of the council putting a street name that blocked the occupants’ exit from the property!

At other end of the spectrum, writing letters supporting PIP claimants whose original claims had been rejected. I am proud to say that in all cases claimants retained their rightful payments. I have carried out an extensive survey of all our roads and pavements requiring repair and resurfacing. While we had some cosmetic repairs, most of the investment went into Labour wards.

From my 36 years’ military service I have always believed in community service. In the past I have been proud to be the mayor of Wellington, but equally, being the chairman of Admaston House Community Centre Trust for the past 10 years with 80 per cent of its users from Wellington has given me great satisfaction.

Should I have the honour of being re-elected as borough councillor I will continue to: Serve your best interests with dedication, honesty and integrity; Assist the development of our town whilst not detracting from its heritage; Ensure all tax-payers’ money is used wisely, efficiently and for the good of all.