The local elections to be held on 2nd May 2019 will include choosing new parish councillors for our new community council. Our local administration will no longer be held from Wymondham but by local residents. Many of us will not know who the candidates are for the new council or anything about them. All candidates are invited to give below in about 100 words information about their background and more importantly what they hope to achieve and bring to the new council if elected.
Parish Council Candidates:
WARD Stephen Michael Robert Hill Farm, Hill Road, Spooner Row, Wymondham, NR18 9LG
ANDREWS Mal (Address in South Norfolk)
CLEARY Tony The Studio Church Farm, Wattlefield Road, Wattlefield, Wymondham, Norfolk, NR18 9JY
DAVILA Paco The Cottage, School Lane, Spooner Row, NR18 9JP Conservative Party Candidate
FOSTER Robert George The Sycamores, Chapel Road, Spooner Row, Wymondham, Norfolk, NR18 9LN
GRIFFIN Neil Robert 3 Bunwell Road, Spooner Row, Wymondham, Norfolk, NR18 9LH
HALLS Julian Lawrence 2 Chapel Loke, Spooner Row, NR18 9LS
HEWITSON Sue Cromwells, Suton Street, Suton, NR18 9JJ
LEMON Martyn Henry Brian Queensland, Station Road, Spooner Row, Wymondham, NR18 9JR Conservative Party Candidate
My name is julian Halls and I am serving Town councillor with Wymondham Town and I live in the village which I have done so for 20 years. The new council I firmly believe needs to be non political . My background is Environmental Health and I have expertise in Health and Safety, Food Hygiene , Licensing and Environmental standards. I have been very active on the message board throughout my tenure, more especially on planning. I teach Astronomy to the University of the third age and have an Open University degree which I obtained whilst serving in the Royal Navy. I hope I can rely on your support.
My name is Stephen Ward. I have served 31 years as an Officer in the Royal Air Force and I moved to Spooner Row 4 years ago. I actively campaigned with Robert Foster and Julian Halls to set up our Community Council, as I strongly believe we can create a better environment to live in if we work together as a community. This is the reason I have spoken to many of you over the last 2 years, predominantly whilst going door to door to canvass support and at the fete. It is also why I started the Future Vision post on the message board. We need an active team, to focus on what we want from our community and one that is enthusiastic to deliver visible benefits, which I am.
My name is Robert Foster.Many of you might know me as the son of Margy and Lennie Foster of Chapel Road.I grew up in the village of Spooner Row and returned 19 years ago with my family where my son attended Spooner Row Primary, the very same school that I had attended.My background is in Finance having been an IFA for 27 years, however I took a step back when my Mother was diagnosed with dementia and I established a business that allowed flexible working around my Mother’s care.I have been at the forefront of the campaign to create this Community Council alongside Stephen, Julian and others, as I passionately believe that there is scope to enhance and progress our 3 communities without being tied to the political establishment.Getting the broadband sorted and the pavement upgrade on School Lane were highlights of last year but together we can do so much more.Our Community Council finally gives us a voice and the means to get things done.
Before anyone cries foul , I have sent e mail to all the candidates who addresses I have and arranged for those who I do not, to be contacted. I have personally delivered a letter to Mr Davila at his home address in school lane on this day the 9th April so I hope by now all will be aware of this.
If anyone can help let the candidates know in case they do not see the message board please do let them know. I want this process to be as open , fair and as transparent as possible
I moved to Wattlefield with my wife, Adrienne, fourteen years ago from Ashwellthorpe where we lived for thirty three years. I'm now a retired architect and believe that my experience can be of value in working with the Community Council. My interest lies in ensuring that our environment is maintained in a sustainable manner as a safeguard against the desecration of the countryside to excessive development. It is vitally important for us all to have an involvement in community activity and the facilities to do so for our mutual benefit. My wife founded the Wymondham Symphony Orchestra 35 years ago that has brought together musicians from the area and given concerts to the local community. I would like to encourage our residents to be able to make their own contributions in various ways to foster a healthy and vital way of life.
I had a leaflet through my door the other day from Francisco Davila but it seemed to have been written for him and not by him, and it was a little light on detail.I had been hoping that he would post something up on the message board just like others have done but nothing yet.He has also not given any form of contact on the leaflet; no email address or mobile, so I would like to ask Mr Davila a couple of questions via the Message Board.
When did you become a resident of Spooner Row?Forgive my directness but you do appear to have burst onto the scene.
Where were you a school governor as I don’t recall you being one at the Primary School?
I seem to remember a Mr Davilla being on the Village Hall committee some years back, maybe 2007 or 2008, are you the same person?If yes, then I seem to recall that you did not turn up to these meetings very often.
You are running as a Conservative Candidate for the Community Council and the Conservative Candidate for Wymondham Town Council and then confusingly, a lady at South Norfolk Council told me that you are also running as the District Conservative Candidate for New Costessey.Will you have time to give to our Community Council?
I have received my postal voting pack and in the next couple of days will be putting my "X" against names. However, there are some names that I do not know and I would like to have some information so I can make an informed choice. I would like the candidates to either put something about themselves and their views / hopes for the Community Council on this forum or knock on my door / put a leaflet in. I have only received 2 leaflets, 1 each from the main parties so thank you to them. I read most of the posts on this Forum and to be honest most of the anonymous posts I disregard especially the many that have made in my view wild statements (and I mean in all directions against several candidates) about others. I would like to see this Council succeed but if I do not know what / who all the candidates want how can I vote for you?
Personally, if they can't be bothered to write on this forum or provide a leaflet about what they can offer as a parish councillor, or knock at your door to explain, then they are not worth voting for. It shows a lack of engagement which is what many of us are trying to get away from.
Please candidates, help me out. I need the candidates for the community council to know that if they don't make themselves or their intentions for the village known, I simply won't vote for them! At the moment I may only be voting for 4/5 of 7.
I had a leaflet through my door the other day from Francisco Davila but it seemed to have been written for him and not by him, and it was a little light on detail.I had been hoping that he would post something up on the message board just like others have done but nothing yet.He has also not given any form of contact on the leaflet; no email address or mobile, so I would like to ask Mr Davila a couple of questions via the Message Board.
When did you become a resident of Spooner Row?Forgive my directness but you do appear to have burst onto the scene.
Where were you a school governor as I don’t recall you being one at the Primary School?
I seem to remember a Mr Davilla being on the Village Hall committee some years back, maybe 2007 or 2008, are you the same person?If yes, then I seem to recall that you did not turn up to these meetings very often.
You are running as a Conservative Candidate for the Community Council and the Conservative Candidate for Wymondham Town Council and then confusingly, a lady at South Norfolk Council told me that you are also running as the District Conservative Candidate for New Costessey.Will you have time to give to our Community Council?
Hello Margaret,
I live on School Lane. Never seen or heard of Mr Davila. I didn't even receive a leaflet through my door from him so I know nothing about him. I also am wondering how if he gets elected as a Conservative Councillor for New Costessey District Council and for Wymondham Town Council, how will he find the commitment to our new Community Parish Council?
Ex-councillor? Mr Davila it appears that you are not being transparent. Are you referring back to when you were a Conservative Wymondham Town Councillor some years back? Now you are standing as a Conservative candidate for election back onto Wymondham Town Council and for the Community Council.
Alongside Mr Lemon who is also standing as a Conservative candidate for election onto Wymondham Town Council and for the Community Council, why are certain political elements of Wymondham Town Council so desperate to get representation onto the new Community Council for Spooner Row, Suton and Wattlefield?
Is there something going on here that we are not being told about?
I received 2 Conservative election leaflets today. One of the leaflets includes in the literature that, 'New infrastructure alongside the building of new homes to enhance quality of life'. This cannot be said of Spooner Row, as the current Conservatives have not delivered on the infrastructure with the new homes, which has reduced the quality of life.
The other leaflet said, 'One of us called to see you today to hear your views'. This is not true as no one knocked at my door to hear my views and the 2 leaflets were instead pushed through my letterbox. I was in all day.
I am a resident of Suton and have been for the past 16 years. I have a business based in Besthorpe. I have been actively involved in the local community, mainly with Spooner Row village hall and school. I was a governor at the school when my children attended and I am still actively involved in the village hall, having held the position of treasurer for the past 10 years. I have a reputation for getting things done and speaking out.
I feel its important to have representation from each of the three communities within the new Parish council and that we all work collectively to ensure a successful outcome for our community.
Thanks for posting Sue, I think the key point that I would like to highlight from your message is that we need representation from across the three communities of Spooner Row, Suton and Wattlefield. As the only resident of Suton who put their name in the hat for election, I feel that it is key that our community supports your election on to the council.
In the same vein I would like to emphasise that Tony Cleary who posted very early onto this message stream , who is our only Wattlefield rep also be supported.
Wattlefield is an important area adjacent to Spooner row and has recently suffered somewhat with the loss of the Wattlefiled stud and several associated houses which now stand empty.
Given Tony's expertise as a now retired architect I believe he can make a very valuable and erudite addition to the Community council in these times of development pressure from all quarters
Sorry, I should have also highlighted Tony Cleary in my last message. Julian is spot on, we also need to ensure that Tony represents the residents of Wattlefield.
When the results are made available later today, I hope Julian Halls doesn't get an extraordinarily high level of spoilt voting cards this time as he did four years ago at the previous local elections for District Council. This was highly suspicious when all the other candidates only had a few spoilt cards each. If this happens again this time then it must be fully investigated. It was very strange and almost convenient that the main opposing candidate at that time for Wymondham should have so many damaged/spoilt cards.