The candidates for the upcoming Cheshire East Council (CEC) & Handforth Town Council (WTC) Elections, representing the Handforth and the South Ward have been announced. Ribia Nisa has decided to stand for election to both.
Handforth residents will have the choice of six candidates to fill two seats on CEC and residents Handforth South Ward will have the choice of four candidates to fill three seats when they go to the polls on on Thursday, 4th May. fill four seats on WTC when they go to the polls on on Thursday, 4th May.
The candidates standing to represent Handforth on CEC are:
- Nisa, Ribia - Labour Party
- Hutchene, Simon Glynn - Conservative Party Candidate
- Robertson, Matthew Kirkland - Conservative Party Candidate
- Smith, John Michael - Independent
- Smith, Julie Anne - Independent *
- Earl, James Andrew - Liberal Democrats
The candidates standing to represent Handforth South on HTC are:
- Peter Moore - Independent
- Ribia Nisa - Labour Party *
- Tim Royle - Independent
- Roger Small - Independent
I will publish brief interviews with each of the candidates, in the order in which I receive a response to my request. Use the tags below to locate the other candidate interviews published to date.
Please tell me about yourself - occupation, where you live, interests, family?
I'm Ribia and I am standing as your local Labour candidate in Handforth in the upcoming local elections for Cheshire East and Handforth Town Council (South Ward).
I have worked in the legal sector for the last 12 years and am currently working for a Regulator as a manager based in Wilmslow.
In 2022 my husband and I were blessed with a beautiful daughter called Hafsa (meaning Little Lioness). She was born 3 months premature and weighed just a pound. The time we spent with her in hospital was naturally very tough for my family but I was overwhelmed by the support received from the community and would like to thank everyone who supported us through that time. Happily, Hafsa is home now and thriving.
How long you have lived there?
I have lived in Colshaw Farm, part of the Handforth ward, for the past 8 years. I moved here in 2015 when I secured a job in a local law firm. I have lived in various places across Greater Manchester and have chosen to make Colshaw Farm and Handforth my home because I love the community spirit in the area.
Are you a member of any local groups or societies?
I enjoy spending time with my family and exploring the countryside around the local area. I also love volunteering with the local Youth Club, SENsational Stay and Play, Snow Angels to support elderly in our community, Friends of Handforth Station, Always Active Group and Crochet & Mental Health group.
Why have you decided to re-stand for election as a borough councillor and as a town councillor as well representing Handforth South Ward?
Handforth and Colshaw Farm has a unique identity and community spirit. If there is ever a problem, the community is always there to help. I want to give back to the great people of Handforth and dedicate my time to making Handforth and Colshaw Farm even better place to live.
What do you consider to be the important issues facing Handforth and Colshaw Farm?
It's been lovely to chat with so many Handforth and Colshaw residents during my canvassing rounds and my surgeries, and I am very grateful to the people who have raised so many issues and views on how our community can be further improved. Some of the points I have heard from you are:
- A need for more frequent bus services with better connections to other forms of public transport
- Better street lighting in various parts of our community
- An urgent need for affordable homes for residents
- A greater extent of youth services, building further on what is currently available
- A need for measures to tackle anti-social behaviour, especially around The Paddock
- More frequent community skips, to reduce fly tipping
- Improvements to adult social care, particularly for elderly or vulnerable citizens
- A dedicated Police Community Support Officer for Colshaw
- Taking forward the Handforth Town Centre Vitality Plan
What do you hope to achieve and how in the next 4 years?
All of the above points raised with me by residents are really important to me, and I hope to be able to achieve real progress with addressing them.
I want to be a really effective local councillor for Handforth and Colshaw, at both Cheshire East and Handforth Town Council. I promise to continue being a councillor who is accessible to residents, and a strong advocate for their views at Council. Above all I want to do everything I can to make sure those views are heard and actions taken that put our community at the forefront of Council decision making.
What experience and personal qualities will you bring to the role?
I believe people have come to know me as someone who is enthusiastic, approachable, caring and keen to represent their views at Council level and to speak up for what is right and fair for the residents of Handforth and Colshaw Farm.
I have worked in the legal sector for the past 12 years which has allowed me to develop analytical abilities as well as leadership and collaborative skills which I will be able to bring to this role.
Why should Handforth and Colshaw Farm residents vote for you?
I live in the community and I have first-hand experience of what the local issues are. I love being involved in the local community and can identify local issues and help come up with solutions.
It's obvious to me that there is a real need for the residents of Handforth and Colshaw's voices to be heard loud and clear at Cheshire East Council. As a Labour councillor I will be able to use my influence and collaborative skills with the Labour group leading the Council to make sure this happens and that real, positive changes are made that are of benefit to all of us.
I believe that, for both Cheshire East and Handforth Town Councils, I am the youngest candidate standing in my ward. I believe that it is vital to have diverse voices (especially young voices) to allow for younger generations' concerns and issues to be given the voice that they deserve.
*current councillor.
