Local election candidates for Halesowen and Sandwell

The Conservative Party is hoping to retain its grip on Dudley Council and Halesowen Area Committee while Labour is looking to hold onto its historic majority in Sandwell.

The Liberal Democrats and Green Party are only fileding a handful of candidates, but are hoping to give the two major parties a run for their money where they are contesting seats.

Three candidates are standing for the UK Independence Party and the British National Party is fielding a lone candidate.

Voters’ polling day choice is:

Dudley Council Halesowen North

Conservative: Karen Shakespeare Born in Hurst Green, I went to Holt Farm and Halesowen Grammar schools. I understand local issues, having lived in Halesowen for almost 40 years and have served as the local councillor for the last 11 years. For six years, as Cabinet member for the Environment I successfully fought to keep weekly black bag ollections, introduced green wheelie bins, extended recycling and increased litter/dog mess enforcement. I have campaigned to get bus services returned, roads resurfaced and repaired, improved our parks, called for action against speeding motorists and addressed antisocial behaviour.

Labour: Hilary Bills I have been a teacher in Sandwell for 41 years and was deputy at Perryfields and headteacher of Holyhead Primary School in Wednesbury. In 2005 I became National President of the largest teachers’ union in Europe, the National Union of Teachers. For seven years I was the chairman of the Friends of Dudley Schools Music Service, during which time a successful campaign was mounted to save the service from massive cuts. My latest campaign has been to get recognition for the women chainmakers of Cradley Heath who in 1910 won a famous victory over the owners for equal pay with men.

Halesowen South

Conservative: Alan Taylor I have been proud to represent the residents of Halesowen South Ward for the past seven years and to have been reselected as the Conservatives’ Candidate for this election. If re-elected I will continue to help maintain our four star quality, value for money, services and a Conservative controlled Dudley Council will continue to do this while keeping the Council Tax increases low. I work closely with my two fellow Conservative Councillors doing our very best to serve everyone in our community. I am a local candidate having lived in the area for nearly fifty years.

Labour: Ian Cooper Born in Rowley Regis, I attended local schools, including Rowley College and studied for a Masters degree at Birmingham University. I taught at Halesowen and Dudley Colleges before moving to work in the voluntary and community sector, where I led a mentoring project. After working for Walsall Council - where I gained valuable insights into the role of councillors and the importance of good links with the community - I joined Sandwell Council to manage a cluster of local schools’ sports and educational projects. I believe in the value of local services such as education, health, transport and care for the elderly and I worry that the young, the sick and the elderly will now pay the price for the cuts led agenda of Dudley Council and the Conservative coalition government.

Also standing: Tim Weller (Green Party), Ray Franklin (UKIP)

Hayley Green & Cradley South

Conservative: Ken Turner Thank you for the opportunity to serve you as member of Dudley MBC for the last nine years. I am proud to be Halesonian, having lived here most of my life. During my term I have served on (and often chaired) the Audit, Taxi, Regeneration, Culture & Recreation and Lifelong Learning Committees. As a trustee of Age Concern, Groundwork Black Country and as a governor of Caslon Community Primary School I have had the opportunity of meeting and serving a wide cross-section of our local community. I also serve in a senior position on the West Midlands Fire Authority.

I am pleased to offer an ‘open-door’ service so that any resident can report their concerns, having successfully tackled hundreds of problems on their behalf.

Labour: Mike Kelly Educated at Earls High and London University, I have been involved in the Halesowen community for many years. I have stood before for the Labour Party in Hayley Green & Cradley South and knows the area - and its issues - well. I am able to put my point of view across on behalf of residents, as I am employed as a freelance journalist, with a wealth of experience in the media and currently broadcasting for a local a radio station. Vote Labour to ensure your voice is heard at Dudley Council.

Also standing: Christopher Lees (Green Party), Bob Heeley (UKIP).

Cradley & Wollescote

British National Party: Robert Weale. I'm 44 years old and attended schools in Cradley and Halesowen. I've experience in retail, steel work and assembly work. I cared for my partner who suffered from Multiple Sclerosis so my opinion of the NHS is from first hand experience. I was a full time carer for 10 years, my partner passed away in 2004 as a result of her fight against MS. I have two stepdaughters and six grandchildren. I'm saddened at the decline in manufacturing and big industry, where whole families and communities worked, eg Clanceys, Plastic Mouldings and Longbridge. Our children have to travel far and wide to look for work which in turn breaks up the family and the elderly are abandoned.

Conservative: Louis Redding I am 50 years old, married, with two daughters, have lived in Dudley Borough for 37 years and enjoyed a successful career in local engineering, working at both British Steel's Cookley and Coombes Wood Works, and a local large local tool making company. I am now in the final months of studying for a PhD. I am a committed member of the local community and serves as an LEA governor at Wordsley and Peters Hill Schools. If I am elected, I will work tirelessly on behalf of everybody in Cradley and Wollescote. My interests include rambling and rugby union and I am a keen gardener.

Green Party: John Payne The biggest difference between the Green Party and the others is that we wouldn't be cutting public spending but closing the gap through tax increases, eg a Robin Hood tax on financial speculation would raise significant sums. Dudley Council will be cutting over 10 per cent a year from its budget over the next three years. This wouldn't happen were the Green Party in power. The Green Party also believes that defence spending should mean that, ie spending on homeland defence, not engaging in expensive foreign wars. Jobs would be created by 'green' initiatives, eg. home insulation in which councils would take a lead.

Labour: Richard Body I'm standing on my record as a councillor who has always put the residents of Cradley and Wollecote first. I want a council that listens to its residents not just paying lip service. Standing up against the lack of regeneration in both Cradley and Wollescote. Our ward has already suffered more cuts than other Halesowen and Stourbridge wards with the loss of its only secondary school and leisure centre including tennis courts.I believe the only way for any change is to reduce the huge majority the Tories currently enjoy on Dudley MBC.

Liberal Democrat: Margaret Hanson I live on the borders of Stourbridge and Halesowen. I am a senior citizen and I have been a member of the Liberals and Liberal Democrats since the age of 16. I have seen a lot of politicians and governments come and go in that time. I was a nurse caring for children and tiny babies my entire working life and found it most fulfilling and rewarding. I am a keen gardener, enjoy needlework, visiting stately homes and their gardens.

Also standing: Glen Wilson (UKIP).

Belle Vale

Conservative: Bob James I have lived in Halesowen for thirty-one years, for the last 11 years I have served as a Belle Vale Councillor. We are all facing a difficult period financially. Hard decisions have to be made but I promise to fight for the best deal for Halesowen. As your councillor I will continue to do the best I can for all of the residents of Belle Vale. I have three priorities which I promise to keep, 1. Safeguard front line services. 2. Secure the best education possible for our children. 3. Promote the regeneration of Halesowen.

Green Party: Dennis Neville. Halesowen needs Councillors who are consistent in opposing cuts to public services, who actively represent the concerns of local people and who put the community and the environment in which we live first. The Green Party is the only party that is consistent in opposing the cuts and speaking up for fairness. I have lived in Halesowen for 30 years and spent most of my working life working with community and voluntary organisations and if I was elected I would work hard to represent the concerns of ordinary people.

Labour: Donella Russell I have been a resident of Belle Vale for over 4 years now and grew up in Cradley Heath where I attended the local primary and High Schools. I have been married to Mark for 11 years and have two boys, Alex, aged 10, and Cameron, aged six,who attend Huntingtree Primary School. I currently work in Brierley Hill where I deal with members of the public and also work in a consultative role between staff and management.

Sandwell Council

Blackheath

Conservative: Debbie Elwell I have lived in Blackheath for nearly 40 years. For the last six years, I have been involved with several Health organisations on a voluntary basis, representing the views of residents. I am well known in Blackheath particularly for my fight back in 2002 to keep Britannia High School and its community facilities open. Sadly, Labour-controlled Sandwell Council closed and demolished the building, ignoring the views of over 3,500 who signed a petition against its closure. If elected, my priorities for Blackheath are to ensure that the voices of the local community are heard, to continue in my work to provide the elderly and vulnerable with the service they deserve and to hold Sandwell Council to account on how they spend your money.

Labour: Bob Price Since I was first elected in 1990 I’ve always taken a keen interest in issues that have affected local residents. Today, Blackheath is a safer place in which to live. We are witnessing less crime as a result of the introduction of community police who work alongside our regular police. I’m also delighted that local facilities have improved. A new state-of-the-art town centre library is due to open soon, which will be a great facility for all residents. If I am re-elected I shall continue to support you, the voter, in fighting crime and antisocial behaviour, alongside other issues that affect your everyday lives.

Cradley Heath and Old Hill

Conservative: Alan Bowler I regularly attend the local traders’ association meetings and as a member of the fundraising committee for Holy Trinity Church in Old Hill I enjoy helping to organise various local community events. I am a member of The Friends of Haden Hill House & Park, regularly attend the Cradley Heath & Old Hill Neighbourhood Forums and I’m one of the area co-ordinators for the Cradley Heath & Old Hill Neighbourhood Watch. If elected, my priorities will be to campaign for a cleaner local environment with more dog litter bins & better street cleaning, to support our local traders and help to create wealth and jobs in our towns. I will also continue to take action to fight antisocial behaviour to make our streets and parks safer.

Labour: Ann Shackleton Since my election to the council in 2004, I have worked tirelessly to help improve the quality of life for people in the area. I have always been closely involved in the community. Currently, I am a governor of two local primary schools, a member of the Friends of Haden Hill Park, the Mary MacArthur Project Group and I am chairman of the Employment and Skills Panel for Rowley Regis. I attend the local neighbourhood forum meetings and liaise with local police and housing agencies as I see partnership working as an essential part of tackling anti-social behaviour and other issues that affect the quality of life of residents.

Liberal Democrat: Robert Johns As an Old Hill resident, I am interested in the delivery of high quality, easily accessible local services. Currently in some areas not even basics are being met, for example with erratic domestic waste collections. I welcome the council’s introduction of wheelie bins for recycling plastics and cardboard, but on environmental issues there is still more to do. I also believe the Council should focus on issues such as poor performance of Sandwell schools. In our area complacent councils have gone unchallenged from the opposition giving no leverage for addressing voters’ issues and I intend to change this.

Oldbury

Conservative: Edward Barnfield I want to stand because no-one is giving Oldbury and Sandwell a proper voice. No-one’s mentioning about Sandwell Council’s £175 million debt. The councillors are quick enough to keep congratulating themselves on the new Public, the college and the new library in Oldbury, but they don’t say how they are paying for it. The country didn’t want Labour in goverrnment, why should Saendwell have to put up with a Labour Council now? If anyopne has attended a council meeting, they will have seen the arrogance and the patronising attitude of the Labour councillors towards the questions the public have asked. I want to bring honesty to the council.

Labour: Elaine Giles I am married with four grown up children and two grandchildren. I work in welfare rights and I have used my knowledge of this area to help people out in the ward, particularly the elderly and disabled. I have enjoyed representing the Oldbury ward for the past seven years. In this time I have dealt with all types of problems, from housing and planning to antisocial behaviour and funding problems. If elected, I pledge to continue to do my best for the residents of Oldbury.

Rowley

Conservative: Tom Millward I have lived in the Rowley Area for over 40 years. I have worked for the last 14 years as a fence erector for a local company. I was a neighbourhood watch co-ordinator for several years, working with the local police to help solve issues of antisocial behaviour. I am keen to work with the Conservative Team in the Rowley Wards to represent the views and concerns of local residents. If successful on polling day, I will do my very best to serve everyone in our community. My priorities for Rowley are to help restore the community spirit that will make Sandwell a good place to live and work for our families and children, to help campaign for speed restrictions in our residential streets and to campaign for a stronger police presence to deter crime and antisocial behaviour.

Labour: Barbara Price Since my last election I have been Labour lead member for Rowley, allowing me to achieve more on your behalf. I am pleased to see community support officers working with regular police in cutting down crime and anti-social behaviour in Rowley. I also welcome the opening of the new Rowley Academy, which will give our kids the facilities they deserve. If elected, I will continue to fight against crime and antisocial behaviour and tackle other issues that affect the lives of people in Rowley.