2 CANDIDATES STANDING IN THURSDAY’S BONCHURCH AND VENTNOR EAST BY-ELECTION

2 candidates have thrown their hat in the ring to sit on Ventnor Town Council, with a by-election to be held this Thursday. 

Residents in Bonchurch and Ventnor East will go to the polls next Thursday (14th September) to fill a gap on Ventnor Town Council. It follows the resignation of Brian Lucas, a longstanding member of the town council.

Now, James Toogood and Adrian Whittaker are vying for the position.

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Mr Toogood was previously a member of Ventnor Town Council, representing the West ward, but resigned earlier in the Summer, saying at the time a bully had made it ‘unbelievably difficult’, constantly criticising and blocking projects.

He is now standing to represent a different ward on the town council, Bonchurch and Ventnor East, months after his resignation.

Speaking this week ahead of the by-election, Mr Toogood said he had resigned due to personal pressures which meant he could not give his best for the residents. He said:

“I soon regretted that decision as I enjoy working with the staff and councillors mostly in a practical way.”

Mr Toogood said the opportunity to stand in Ventnor East and Bonchurch interested him as he has a good working relationship with the outgoing Councillor Lucas.

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Adrian Whittaker is a member of other councils on the South of the Island — Lake and Shanklin — and represents the Vectis Party.

Following some turmoil at Ventnor Town Council in recent months, Mr Whittaker said he feels he is the best candidate to bring stability, with a proven track record of getting things done and spearheading successful community projects, such as the reinstatement of Big Mead Pond.

In recent weeksm walking around the Bonchurch and Ventnor East ward, Mr Whittaker said he had noticed ‘serious’ road defects on Leeson Road, unwalkable paths, overgrown vegetation, missing signs and broken benches. He said he was shocked by what he had found and has since reported them to the relevant services.

If elected, Mr Whittaker says he would be undertaking a complete ward survey, road by road, to find out what needs to be done.

Neither candidate lives in the ward.

The polling station will be at St Boniface Church and open from 07:00 to 22:00. People will need their photo ID at the polling station to be able to vote.