Shawbirch ward candidates

Thee candidates, one seat available.

Usman Ahmed, Labour

Usman has lived in Telford all his life and has been involved in public service from a very young age. He studied law at the University of Staffordshire.

He is involved in the local community as a parish councillor, a member of the interfaith groups and vice chair of the Telford Muslim Forum.

Usman’s priorities for Shawbirch:

• Protecting services at our PRH.

• To oppose any inappropriate development on the Shawbirch Island.

• Better youth provision for young people in Shawbirch.

• To improve local bus services from Shawbirch.

If elected, Usman will work hard on your behalf.

Anthony Lowe, Conservative

I have represented Shawbirch on Wellington Town Council for the past four years and have served as Deputy Mayor since May 2018. In January 2019, I was instrumental in overturning the initial flawed decision by the Wellington Planning Committee not to object to the proposed development on the Shawbirch North and East site and I assure you that, if elected to Telford and Wrekin Borough Council on May 2, I will campaign to overturn the ‘Local Plan’ so this site is redesignated to agriculture. Inward investment and job creation is vital but not on this site! Never! Prime agricultural land must be protected from the tyranny of development! After eight years of socialist administration with consistent LibDem support (check the voting records if you do not believe me) it really is time for a change.

My priorities for Shawbirch and environs will be keeping our natural environment well-maintained, i.e. footpaths and ponds, with zero tolerance of littering, fly-tipping and dog fouling. I am in favour of the proposed relocation of the Medical Centre to the corner site on Brandon Avenue. Of course, 24-hour A&E must remain at the PRH. As a cyclist, I am eager to improve cycle lane provision across the borough and good signage has a role here. School catchment areas and recent cuts to the school transport budget need to be reviewed. Vote for change at Telford and Wrekin. I can be trusted to deliver.

Bill Tomlinson (incumbent), Liberal Democrat

I am privileged to have been the borough councillor of Shawbirch for 22 years. As a resident of the ward I am in a good position to see what is required.

My key objectives are:

• Campaigning to retain full services at the Princess Royal Hospital; I have spoken at rallies in support of our hospital.

• Alerting residents to local planning applications; together we successfully fought off a toilet roll factory.

• Liaising closely with the police in our area to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

• Continuing to secure improvements to Shawbirch.

• Stopping government cuts to both the police and local authorities; helping to protect the most vulnerable, particularly the elderly.

• Updating residents on the relocation of the Medical Centre.

• Keeping council tax low. I believe police need more resources, but this should not fall upon local residents and increased council tax.

In Shawbirch we are blessed to have the Dothill local nature reserve and surrounding green spaces, I will fight to preserve these. I am thankful to all those residents who volunteer to improve the quality of life in our area. I will endeavour to keep the local community informed through my regular newsletters.