In the run up to the General, Borough and Town Council elections on May 7th we will be publishing brief interviews with each of the candidates that respond to our request (by the end of the month), in the order in which they respond.
To read the interviews with other candidates click on the tags at the bottom of the article. For example, pieces on the other candidates for the Handforth Ward will all be tagged 'Handforth Ward' and 'Borough Elections'. Candidates representing the same party or group will also be connected via the tags.
Phil Barton is a Conservative candidate for the Handforth Ward for Cheshire East Borough Council.
Phil is 64 years old, married with three sons and has lived in Wilmslow for over 30 years. He worked for ICI/Zeneca/AstraZeneca as a senior IT Manager before leaving in 2000 to run his own consultancy. He then managed the European Railways Data Network for 13 years before retiring. Phil now plays golf at Styal and is active in local politics.
Speaking about why he is standing for election, Phil told me "As a late baby boomer I have been fortunate in life and now I am fully retired I want to give something back to society. Local government spends large amounts of our money on vital services - £260m in Cheshire East. It is an important area and I feel I have a lot to offer with technical, financial, purchasing and planning skills."
I asked Phil why he had chosen to stand in Handforth rather than Wilmslow where he lives. Phil replied "Handforth ward is diverse. It covers not only Handforth village but large areas round the River Dean and has expanded beyond old borders. It is important to understand the differing needs in the different areas.
"I have been involved in Handforth politics since 2007 when my son was elected to the old Macclesfield Borough Council. I knocked on every door, helped in Meriton Park and have stayed involved with Handforth ever since. This being the first CEC elections since I retired, I was honoured to be asked by the local committee to stand with Anthony Harrison and I readily accepted."
I asked Phil what he considered to be the important issues facing Handforth. He said "I believe this is a crucial time for the future of Handforth. There are the issues of the local plan and the fight to restrict the development on Handforth East. However the building of the SEMMMS (Airport relief) road is the biggest challenge to Handforth. The strategy envisages economic growth generating additional economic output for the region of up to £2.5 billion and contributing towards the creation of up to 5,000 new jobs. Being adjacent to, and now connected to, the Airport, Handforth area is strategically placed to take advantage of this. With it comes threats and opportunities and needs a strong, active team of councillors at the heart of decision making."
He added "I was dismayed to find that many of the issues that existed in 2007 have still not been resolved. Anthony and I want to tackle and clear a lot of the smaller, but still important, issues quickly: such as the re-location of the war memorial; disabled access to the station; disabled parking around Honford hall; parking problems across the ward; a pelican crossing at Station Road junction; resurfacing of many roads particularly Kingston Road to the school and many other improvements.
"We also want to look at '20 is plenty' schemes in areas where the residents support this. There are many planning issues small and large to tackle. The elephant in the room is Handforth East and our wish to limit development to 500 homes including the 175 already agreed in the Hall Road area. Schooling and school places is also a key issue. The Wilmslow High School site is full to bursting and a High school in Handforth would relieve this. Last but not least is the regeneration of Handforth village. Anthony and I will achieve this by being a united voice that is heard and listened to at CEC meetings and by being active, proactive and keeping our eyes on the solutions not the obstacles."
Asked why Handforth residents should vote for him, Phil said "Because I will do things. Because I will have a voice with the CEC ruling party. Because I will work hard for the residents of Handforth ward. Because I will not tell them to ring CEC or write to their MP, but instead tackle the issue directly."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
"Because I will do things. Because I will have a voice with the CEC ruling party...."
CEC ruling party?
I may be wrong but, are Councillors not elected to serve the electors, rather than rule?
An astounding election statement- no wonder this arrogant person was chucked out when he stood against a party-free candidate in the Wilmslow Town Council by-election (the area where he lives, rather than Handforth)? Now he seeks election in a location where he does not live.
He seems more concerned about getting himself elected, rather than the fact that one of his sons voted to remove protected Green Belt land in Handforth and thereby open it up to speculative development.
See amendment 1.
http://moderngov.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ecminutes/mgAi.aspx?ID=22704
I have known Phil for some years as a friend. He is intelligent, energetic,
and articulate. He has a great interest in both national and local politics.
He has a good business and finance background.
He is very community minded and is a person who gets things done.
If elected, Handforth would be fortunate to gain a strong voice and supporter.
Has Handforth, along with neighbouring towns and villages not been connected to the airport since it was built? The A555 will certainly make accessing it quicker but it will also, according to SEMMMS own traffic models, increase traffic on the A34 by 50%. What advantages does Mr Barton foresee this will bring to Handforth?
Would Mr Barton care to comment on Conservative Cheshire East Council leader Michael Jones' statement?
"Many people state we want to build in areas of beauty but we simply do not. Infact we choose sites of little value and of low grade land like Handforth East, which will protect the rest of the greenbelt around Wilmslow, handforth and Alderley edge. It will stop pepperpotting and take traffic away from the congested A34.
It will provide much needed facilities including a new high school and funding to develop Handforth Town Centre."