Independent parties prove to be a growing influence

Apoliticals and Green candidates lead the independent charge in local elections

WITH a fortnight to go until the West Berkshire local elections, the independent movement is growing.

The Apolitical party, The Green Party and UKIP will field a total of 21 candidates between them at the district council elections on May 7 to contest the 52 seats on West Berkshire Council.

Founded by David Yates, the Apolitical group – which is also fielding candidates for both the Newbury Town Council and general elections – says it wants to replace confrontation with collaboration and obfuscation with transparency.

Mr Yates said he believes the group’s “willingness to challenge, review, and rethink” will be welcomed by voters.

It will field three district council candidates – Charlie Farrow and Mr Yates, who will both be standing for the seat on the Northcroft ward, and Peter Norman standing in Falkland ward – as well as in the General Election.

Mr Norman has been a vocal campaigner in opposing the development of greenfield sites around Newbury and founded the ‘Say No to Sandleford’ group.

He is currently a governor at St Bartholomew’s School.

Meanwhile The Green Party will field 11 candidates for the West Berkshire Council local elections: Carolyne Culver (Downlands), David Marsh (Falkland), Stephen Wallis (Greenham), Trish Whitham (Hungerford), Timothy Davis (Kintbury), Pamela Cooper (Northcroft), Miriam Kennet (Pangbourne), Jill Hoblin (Speen), Rob Mellor (St Johns), Paul Field (Thatcham South and Crookham), Susan Millington (Victoria).

The Greens have included affordable development, an integrated transport hub for Newbury, reduced speed limits on local roads and relief for local businesses in its vision for West Berkshire.

The party believes that Newbury should have an transport hub that incorporates the bus station and taxi rank with the railway station, with the bus station located closer to the train station as part of the regeneration of Market Street, not further away as is currently planned.

It says it will also press First Great Western to provide a final through train of the day from London Paddington to Newbury at least an hour later than the 8.35pm service.

Green Party parliamentary candidate for Newbury, Paul Field, who is also standing for election to West Berkshire Council in Thatcham South and Crookham ward said: “The Green Party is committed to honest, positive and accountable community development.

“We offer a credible alternative to the current situation where councillors vote along partisan lines and little effort is made to reflect the wishes of local people.”

Standing for UKIP are Ian Waters (Clay Hill), Charlie Ashley (Greenham), Catherine Anderson (Northcroft), Clive Dray (Northcroft), Robert Morton (St Johns) and David McMahon (Victoria).

Andrew Stott will be the Patriotic Socialist Party’s solitary candidate and will be contesting the Kintbury seat at the local elections.

He is also standing at the general elections.