Sheringham South, St Benet, Stalham, Stibbard, and Stody - North Norfolk District Council 2019 election profiles

Sheringham South

Penny Bevan Jones (LD)

Colin Heinink (LD) - I've been a teacher for 16 years; first in primary and more recently working with children with special educational needs. I currently teach at Sheringham Woodfields Special school and thoroughly enjoy my role. I have volunteered with Samaritans and Age UK.

Since moving to Sheringham I have been completely enchanted by the place and, were I to be elected, I would work hard to keep it special. I live and work in the town and I'm bringing up my 3-year-old son here (with another little one on the way!) so I feel very invested in the future of the town.

Robert Stevens, Conservative candidate for Stalham at the North Norfolk District Council election in May 2019. Picture: SUPPLIED BY THE CANDIDATE (Image: Archant)

As a Liberal Democrat I will always begin by listening to what residents want for the town. I firmly believe that at local level councillors of all parties should work together to get things done.

Judy Oliver (C) and Dick Shepherd (C) (joint statement) - We have been councillors for Sheringham South since 2015 and we're pleased Upper Sheringham is joining our ward. Dick is a former Chairman of NNDC, and a former Chairman of Planning and Judy is also County Councillor for Sheringham and Beeston Regis.

We know the way Brexit has been handled has put a lot of people off politics at the moment, but we do hope you will take the time to vote in these local elections, because they matter and because the people you chose locally can make a real difference.

We want you to vote for us because you approve of the Conservatives' achievements since 2015 - a new Splash, indoor tennis centre plans, Deep History Coast project, almost £2 million from the Big Society Fund to help communities, market towns investment, coast protection, 6 Blue Flag beaches, and 3 Green Flag parks, over 300 affordable homes, the Sporting Centre of Excellence for our young people, public lavatory refurbishment, bringing empty homes back into use, our anti-single use plastics campaign, community music, schools' engagement and improved recycling, all while holding down Council tax.

Edmund Wright, Labour candidate for Stody at the North Norfolk District Council election in May 2019. Picture: SUPPLIED BY THE CANDIDATE (Image: Archant)

And we want you to vote for us because you support our future ideas – getting funding for a Holway Road roundabout, trialling free parking each week in our towns, driving the economy and helping new businesses to start up, supporting local transport and buses through a new local lottery, introducing a bike hire scheme, protecting our beautiful countryside and beaches, combating loneliness and mental health issues, supporting and listening to our young people, helping our veterans, working to provide further affordable homes, supporting art, drama and music for residents and visitors, while continuing to hold down council tax.

Mark Rosen (L)

St Benet

Mike Pert, Liberal Democrat candidate for Stibbard at the North Norfolk District Council election in May 2019. Picture: SUPPLIED BY THE CANDIDATE (Image: Archant)

Dennis Simpson (C)

Adam Varley (LD) - I have lived in North Norfolk my whole life and feel very lucky to be in such an idyllic part of East Anglia. Horning and Ludham are beautiful villages and have always inspired me and given me great joy. I am an active parish councilor for Horning.

I feel honoured to be standing for district councilor for both villages and strive to continue the great work of Cllr. Barbara McGoun and Cllr. Marion Millership.

I am very fortunate to have them as mentors. I aim to continue their ethos, bringing my own integrity and enthusiasm to this role. I think the district council and its councilors are so vital to communities and I'm very fortunate to have been given the opportunity of standing in this election.

Colin Heinink, Liberal Democrat candidate for Sheringham South in the 2019 North Norfolk District Council election. Picture: SUPPLIED BY THE CANDIDATE (Image: Paul Heinrich)

I'm very passionate about both villages and want to help retain the charm and functionality of these places for each and every resident alike.

Anna Walsh (L)

Stalham

Adam Varley, Liberal Democrat candidate for St Benet in the 2019 North Norfolk District Council election. Picture: SUPPLIED BY THE CANDIDATE (Image: Paul Heinrich)

Timothy Bartlett (L)

Michael Filgate (G) - Living near Stalham with my family for over 30 years,gives me a feel for local issues. As parish councillor, National Trust volunteer, volunteer Horsey seal warden and church trustee, I support small-scale economic development that protects wildlife habitats and does not endanger the local area or our planet.

Retired from paid work in Great Yarmouth with children and families,also with those with learning disability, I can well represent our market town, surrounding villages, the Broads ( member of Broads Society committee) and precious countryside.

Greens share the concerns of local citizens for the planet and our grandchildren. Climate change and the fate of our coastline are current topics that local councillors need to keep top of the District agenda.

Pauline Grove-Jones, Liberal Democrat candidate for Stalham in the 2019 North Norfolk District Council election. Picture: SUPPLIED BY THE CANDIDATE (Image: Archant)

Good sensitive planning decisions, reliable services giving sustainable value for money, better housing insulation standards and robust lobbying for public transport are vital for the area. Vote Green Party for the common good.

Pauline Grove-Jones (LD) - I have lived in Stalham since 1990 and I worked at Blundeston Prison in Lowestoft, teaching prisoners and running the education facilities for the Broadland Clinic at Little Plumstead Hospital. I joined Stalham Town Council in 2007 and I am still a member with responsibilities as chair of one of our committees for reporting, via our Town Clerk, matters relating to roads, potholes, street lights, the three churchyards and the allotments!

I believe in the Liberal Democrat ideals of fairness and equality and I hope I have committed my time upholding these ideals to the best of my ability. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with all of you to help improve our communities, to help our environment and especially to help residents with their problems.

Marion Millership (LD) - My husband Lee and I have lived in Sutton for 25 years. We have two grown up children and gained a daughter in-law and a very new grandson born this January. I am a carer for my parents who live in Stalham and we are all a very close family who look after each other.

Andrew Brown, Liberal Democrat candidate for Stody in the 2019 North Norfolk District Council election. Picture: SUPPLIED BY THE CANDIDATE (Image: Archant)

I am passionate about our local villages and the lives of those we are elected to represent. I have tried to be a positive ambassador for our liberal democrat values and I have seen during these last two years what a difference it's possible to make to people's lives.

Jon Payne (C) - Jon Payne recently moved back to North Norfolk. He has a background in arts education, charity governance, and business development; working for the RNLI and National Foundation for Youth Music, and other charitable organisations. He is currently Director of Music at St Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich.

Jon is new to local politics and hopes to bring a fresh approach to helping residents. He has already been involved in opposing a planning application which, if approved, will deprive Stalham of 25-30 invaluable parking spaces; and is working with residents to make a dangerous crossing safer, and to address concerns about changes to local bus services.

Jon says, 'at a time when there's an increasing lack of connection between politics and people, I want to play my part in ensuring residents of Stalham, Sutton, and Catfield have direct access to councillors' help, whatever they need, whenever they need it.

Marion Millership, Liberal Democrat candidate for Stalham in the 2019 North Norfolk District Council election. Picture: SUPPLIED BY THE CANDIDATE (Image: Paul Heinrich)

Robert Stevens (C) - I have lived in Stalham for nearly 20 years but I think that my dogs are possibly better known than I am! Whilst I have been a Conservative District Councillor, the Council has been generous to Stalham e.g. £7,500 for a new clubhouse for St. Mary's Bowls Club and £9,000 for maintenance work on the Town Hall. The Council has also offered up to £100,000 to Stalham under The Market Town Initiative and already over half this sum has been received. To assist the Council's finances in a very small way, I have not claimed any expenses whatsoever in the last 8 years while I have been privileged to be a Councillor.

Stibbard

Vincent Fitzpatrick (C) - I have lived in North Norfolk since 2006 and my keen sense of community service led me to stand for and be elected to the District Council in 2015.

Joe Payne, Conservative candidate for Stalham in the 2019 North Norfolk District Council election. Picture: SUPPLIED BY THE CANDIDATE (Image: Archant)

I wanted the Council to benefit from my professional experience in helping organisations operate more effectively. I am proud to have served in an administration that has delivered for local people, business and jobs. I am passionate that we continue to maintain and improve services but with an eye to efficiency to keep your council tax bill as low as possible.

My time as the Chairman of a Parish Council gave me a great insight to how the District and the Parishes can work together for the benefit of our community.

I want to be the Conservative Councillor for Stibbard Ward because I know that rural communities face particular challenges and I pledge to work for the benefit of everyone in the Ward.

Mike Pert (LD) - I must initially state that I am not really a political animal, part of me feels it was a sad day when politics entered Local Government to this level.

Mike Filgate, Green candidate for Stalham in the 2019 North Norfolk District Council election. Picture: SUPPLIED BY THE CANDIDATE (Image: Archant)

So why The Liberal Democrats? Well for me when considering the behaviour of the countries two leading parties there is not much choice is there?

I have had constant dealings with NNDC over a period of 35 years, particularly within the Planning and Building control departments, so I have some insight into how things do or should work.

If elected, I will serve the people of the eight parishes in the ward to the best of my ability and in the most honest way I can. I will not be persuaded to tow the party line if it goes against what I truly believe. I hope all the considerations I will have to make will be truly at grass-roots level; with the locals for the locals.

Barbara Wyvill (G) - The climate crisis affects all of us – and it will affect our children and grandchildren catastrophically. I am standing for the Green Party because it's the only party that has policies to tackle this emergency. In North Norfolk, climate breakdown causing coastal erosion, extreme weather, loss of bird species, fewer bees and other disasters, must be addressed. I will implement Green Party policies on NNDC, for example, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by supporting home insulation and building sustainable -¬ and affordable – housing. I will support policies that protect verges and open spaces, encourage biodiversity and sustainable farming.

I have lived in Stibbard Ward for seventeen years; I am married with adult children. I'm a retired educationalist and a former Kettlestone parish councillor. As a district councillor I would support the important work of local parish councils.

Stody

Andrew Brown (LD) - I am aged 62, a retired lawyer living in Corpusty/Saxthorpe with my wife Carol. Now a parish councillor, school governor and local activist for the village. I have helped in drafting the first Neighbourhood Plan in North Norfolk for Corpusty/Saxthorpe which has now been approved following a successful referendum. I have campaigned to limit savage cuts to our mobile library service and against invasive planning applications for mobile phone masts which would blight the landscape so precious to our way of life.

Now is the time for a more inclusive style of local politics after recent years of turmoil from the Conservatives. This election on 2 May offers an opportunity to introduce policies to meet the needs of our communities. We carry out annual surveys for our residents to find out what concerns them most and we Liberal Democrats are determined to make a difference.

Steven de la Salle (C) - I'm a working class man who believes in providing ample opportunities to help others progress and improve - through education, employment, affordable housing and social opportunities. I'm also a democrat and believe in putting local people first, as well as protecting our beloved green belt and keeping our towns and villages safe from reckless drivers.

I'm a huge campaigner for mental health service improvements and have new ideas that I would love to help North Norfolk develop.

I believe in delivering value for money and am proud to live in North Norfolk.

Edmund Wright (L) - I came to Norfolk 30 years ago to work as a crop agronomist for the potato merchant Beesons, initially in Melton Constable, and more recently for the seed potato merchant Solana in Stody.

I first joined the Labour Party in 1974. After returning to Norfolk from a period of employment in Spain, I then re-joined the Labour Party. I am currently their Business Liaison Officer for North Norfolk.

My priorities at District Council will be ensuring affordable good quality homes for residents especially young people, encouraging investment to support the local economy, and supporting adequately funded social care. I believe that recent austerity undertaken by the Conservatives, both government and local authority, have caused hardship and it is now overdue to reverse this austerity and to invest in our communities. However, I will want to find out what the residents think and need, rather than just working with pre-set ideas.