In the countdown to Christmas, as well as wrapping presents, buying the turkey and singing carols, some Isle of Wight residents will be heading to the ballot box. It will be to fill an empty position on the Isle of Wight Council — as the representative for Ventnor and St Lawrence. Gary Peace, the former member, resigned in October due to personal reasons and forced a by-election to take place in the ward on 21st December. Now, just a week away, 3 candidates have come forward to take up the mantle — Ed Blake (Conservatives), Steve Cooper (Labour) and Ray Harrington-Vail (Liberal Democrats). But why should they get your vote?
Ed Blake
The local businessman and operator of Ventnor Haven Management has promised new energy and a strong voice to ensure local issues get resolved. He said:
“As someone who lives and works in the town, I will work constantly for all the residents and fully utilise the platform for progressive action. “Like other Ventnorians, I have grown tired of empty promises for the area and the lack of action from the Alliance-led council. “With recent events, the need for action is only accentuated.” “We need to do everything to help our local businesses not only survive this tough period but thrive into the future. “Encouraging more quality jobs and careers in the area is a long-term aim of mine. This will help keep our talent within the town, fuelling more success in the future.”
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One of the main issues is accessibility and parking, Mr Blake said, and he believes there should be more free parking in town. He said he has started working with Conservative councillors who are campaigning to freeze parking and permit charges for the next two years. He said:
“For too long the council has hiked prices to plug holes in its budget which has caused damage to shops and businesses.”
Steve Cooper
Mr Cooper is the current Mayor of Ventnor, and in his role says he has always done what he considered to be vitally important; listening to residents’ concerns and acting upon them, wherever possible. If progress cannot be achieved, he said, then the reasons why not should be communicated. Mr Cooper says if he is elected, he will commit to driving improvements in 8 areas:
- Reduce poverty by working in partnership with all the relevant parties
- Support businesses to boost the local economy and increase job opportunities — especially in the sustainability sector or the green economy
- Lobby the Isle of Wight Council to make brownfield land available for affordable housing “so young Islanders can remain living on the Island”
- Reduce carbon emissions in all we do. Mr Cooper said the most dangerous issue facing humans today is climate crisis and it will be foremost in his thoughts while representing residents
- Lobby the Isle of Wight Council for a survey and plan of action to rebuild Undercliff Drive, once again linking St Lawrence and Niton, if it is feasible to do so
- Reduce anti-social behaviour and the causes of it by continuing to work with police, local businesses and residents
- Improve schools’ financial security and local education provision by working with school leaders and parents
- Uphold ethical leadership and the Nolan Principles for public life
Ray Harrington-Vail
One of the founders of the local Footprint Trust charity, Mr Harrington-Vail has said he is aware of the unique challenges rural, coastal towns and villages have — with the cost of living crisis and energy crisis hitting residents of Ventnor and St Lawrence hard. His vision for the ward is to “look for imaginative ways to bring empty and underused properties back into use” and highlight how the cost of living crisis and the ongoing landslip issues are affecting local people. He said:
“I wish to consult with local people about the future of Undercliff Drive and its possible reopening for light traffic. “Following the recent landslip and sewage pipe collapse, the town was almost cut off, leaving just one road in and out of the area. “I am sure if such a situation was threatened in Newport or Ryde action would be taken. “All too often Ventnor and other rural parts of the Island are forgotten about.”
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Mr Harrington-Vail said the Liberal Democrats have a “positive vision for the Island”, balancing “the interests of economy, the environment and the community, seeking a fair deal for ordinary people.” He said he has had support from former Conservative, Green and independent voters, who want to see change and he was looking forward to growing the Liberal Democrat group at County Hall. Voters will need to take photo ID to cast their vote when polls open between 07:00 and 22:00 next Thursday (21st December). St Lawrence Village Hall, on Undercliff Drive, and 1 Salisbury Gardens, on Dudley Road, will be used as polling stations.
Much hand waving and vague, empty promises. Why don’t these people specify exactly what they want to achieve? Because they haven’t got a clue. The council exists to provide basic services not to “fight poverty” or “bring underused properties back into use”. Undercliiff Drive will never be reopened because it would cost too much. These clowns should be promising to stop waste by the council. The council needs to provide essential services in an effective manner. Just empty the bins, provide economically viable schooling, stop the car parking rip-offs, and keep the island tidy. Don’t dream up ways of wasting more of our money. We already pay far too much council tax,
waste of time there all just looking after no1
Those with businesses like the Blakes may seem the better option, but as we know, who is to say that these sort whose wives and family also have several arty, fishy, etc businesses in these areas won’t just become a Councillor to ‘look after the family’ as many other political figures clearly do.
So likely soon if not already Masonic attachments and then such become just like the rest of them, saying the right thing, but doing very little and nothing to rock the boat, and just enjoying the perks for their loved ones and friends.
Don’t vote for any imo, as like others say, so pathetic policies, nothing earthy to change things, just sit back and look after no 1.
At least then you have not boosted their over size egos as well
Voting is a farce.
Just vote for Mr Klaus and I do mean Santa Claus
YOU WILL OWN NOTHING AND BE HAPPY
All votes these days are a wasted vote, all as bad as each other, greed rules.
Whoever gets elected, they must stop the sheer waste of precept monies on crackpot ideas like the Time and Tide bell, a “community” orchard and a Town Crier. It would also be good if Salisbury Gardens were sold and the Town Council were rehomed in something more appropriate for them. A summerhouse on the Men in Sheds site should do. Unfortunately the giant egos of these political nonentities knows no bounds. I see the one who quit because he was being “bullied” is back again. Pathetic!
Another one who has no idea what they are voting for!
This vote is for the Isle of Wight Council not Ventnor Town Council. They will have no say nor a vote in any of the issues you have mentioned.
Somebody once said there should be a exam before you are allowed to vote, you would fail it.
You are banging on about Ventnor Town Council issues. Fascinating, but this is an election to IOW Council.
If I lived in Ventnor i would not bother going. All are dreamers in cloud cookoo land
Voting………..let’s not go there
Might as well vote for a Goat, all councillors suffer from the Messiah complex.
Wow, I hope you realise what you’re saying there?
That’s really overstepping the mark.
I’d seriously suggest removing that comment, or the ‘someone’ you alluded to being on the sex offender’s register might be taking this a lot further.
People really do need to think a little before posting defamatory comments such as this.
why did you have to lower the tone all Tim west said was register there was no mention in his report of a sex offender’s register It is because of women like you think other people are overstepping the mark when it is allways you i think you need to get out more dear
Obviously referring to the housing register or school register.
yes the housing register
If you REALLY want to do something that is worthwhile for the people, do something about getting the feral brats/smack rats/snort swills tagged and curfewed. This is what needs first priority as the locals are being plagued by unchecked anti social behavior. If you want people’s votes, do what the people want.
My opinion is, that even if you don’t like/approve of any of the candidates who offer themselves, for any sort of election, is that rather than abstain or not bother (a lazy option!!) at least as a citizen you did turn up at the poll station. Put a cross against every option. Although that nullifies and spoils the ballot paper, it does indicate that you had bothered to make a little bit of a democratic effort and it was recorded even as a spoiled vote.
In some parts of the world at the end of the voting day all the unused votes/ballot papers are ‘stuffed’ into the ballot boxes with an identical ‘x’ on them for the same candidate.
Ok! Britain has a more secure setup – at the moment.
Steve Cooper is a good man, I wouldn’t trust the other two as far as I could throw them.