A number of new Parish Councillors have been elected in towns and villages across the Isle of Wight.
The Green Party’s Joe Lever won the Parish by-election in Newport West yesterday (Thursday) with 224 votes. He saw off Sam Pascoe who gained 114 votes. The turnout was just 13.48%.
Councillor Lever, a young father and technology designer from Newport, is looking forward to taking his place on the Parish Council:
“I am so grateful to voters for giving me this opportunity to prove I’m worthy of their vote. I’d like to say a massive thank you to local Green Party members for their help leading up to the election.
“The local Party is full of vision and enthusiasm with Town and Parish Councillors working hard in communities all over the Island, and now I’m so proud to be one of them. Can’t wait to get started now!”
In Bembridge, community champion and publican of The Old Villlage Inn, Jay Chapman, was elected as a new Parish Councillor.
With 531 total votes, the turnout was 35.3% of the eligible voting electorate – an increase of 10% on last year. Chapman beat Mark Watkins by 57 votes.
The vacancy arose due to former councillor Millington’s non attendance for a statutory period of time.
Over in Lake, John Marshall won by just 10 votes to be elected as a Parish Councillor for Lake South. 202 people turned out, representing 15.6% of the 1,295 electorate.
Jenny Hicks gained 73 votes, whilst Stephen J Parkes secured 44 votes.
Mr Marshall said:
“I wish to thank all those in Lake South who voted for me in the recent Parish Council Elections. It was a very close vote but I believe the majority of all voters were keen to preserve the Parish and are upset with the unplanned developments in the Merrie Gardens area and, in addition, to the decimation of the pavements”.
Why the emphasis on the political party? Town and Parish councils are non-political, so it doesn’t matter which party they may favour, it has no place in these local councils.
maybe, but it will influence the decision making process employed by the individuals elected. Whilst they are supposed to be impartial, they will be guided by their own preferences and leanings.
In this case, someone from the green party has been elected, so that will easily mean a voice on the council which will want less houses built, less pollution and more green spaces.