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.
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 Wilmslow Dean Row Ward of Cheshire East Borough Council will all be tagged 'Wilmslow Dean Row Ward' and 'Borough Elections'. Candidates representing the same party or group will also be connected via the tags.
Toni Fox is the Residents of Wilmslow candidate for the Wilmslow Dean Row Ward of Cheshire East Borough Council.
Toni is married with one son and has lived in the local area (Alderley Edge, Wilmslow, and currently Handforth) for 40 years. She is 51 years young and now retired, in her spare time Toni is a keen walker with two dogs, enjoys DIY and is a keen gardener - opening her garden for charities, including Wilmslow Wells for Africa.
Speaking about why she has decided to stand for election, Toni told me "Current Conservative councillors have totally disregarded their electorate and voted en masse for development. The Conservatives voted with the party whip, for the party, not the people.
If elected, I will most certainly follow the Residents of Wilmslow maxim of "People Before Party". Wilmslow needs independent councillors at CEC, not party "Yes" men/women and I will certainly be most energetic in putting Wilmslow first at all times."
When asked about the most important issues facing Wilmslow, Toni said "There is still a potential threat of further development in the Dean Row Ward during the current reworking of the Local Plan. The Adlington Road development, 204 homes, alongside that approved at Woodford airfield, 960 homes, and CEC's proposal to build up to 2300 homes adjacent to the A34 in Handforth, will create road chaos and grid lock. CEC has not considered or appears to have ignored the impact these developments will have on our daily lives. I'm most concerned as to how our schools, emergency, medical and social services are going to accommodate these massive developments."
She added "Thus far, my Conservative opponent has paid limp and meaningless lip service to the views of his electorate and then voted according to the dictates of the Conservative whip. As an Independent I will listen and will represent resident's views and vote accordingly.
"I am acutely aware that Wilmslow is in need of much improvement. I will seek to improve the town's centre, make it a clean and well-kept environment. Also of great concerns are the congested roads and lack of adequate car parking for employees and commuters leading to a growing problem of all days parking in residential roads.
"Raising the town's history and profile using local historic figures; George Mallory and Romany (I strongly believe that Romany's famous Vardo caravan should be restored to the town (given away by Cheshire East councillors under the direction of a current CE councillor) & will talk to the Romany Society."
Toni continued "There is a significant sum of Section 106 money intended to be used for social and community projects that should be used for the benefit of Wilmslow's residents. I will be seeking the release of this money to help with improvements in the town.
"I will engage with local groups; Wilmslow Trust, Transition Wilmslow, Wilmslow Business Form to name but a few to address their views and concerns and work with them to find solutions.
"I am already well known by the officers and councillors at Cheshire East Council for being a determined adversary willing to tackle issues head on both in respect of the Local Plan but also in regard to local issues that affected Handforth, and would impact Wilmslow, residents. The fact that the Conservative council leader, Cllr Michael Jones has now chosen to campaign in the Dean Row Ward is suggestive of how concerned the Conservative Party is of Residents of Wilmslow's impact upon the Conservative vote.
"I will use my experience to best represent resident's views on topics that are important to them."
I asked Toni why she had decided to stand in Wilmslow rather than Handforth where she lives. she responded "I believe the election of a strong INDEPENDENT councillor representing Wilmslow will help loosen the stranglehold that the Conservative leader, Michael Jones, and Conservative councillors currently have at Cheshire East Council over vital locally important issues.
"I have been working with Residents of Wilmslow for some years as its policies coincide with those of the Hands off Handforth Green Belt residents group of which I am Chairman.
"I entered the political arena is 2012 with the emergence of Cheshire East Councils Draft Strategy Documents and the appalling way the Conservative majority at CEC was behaving towards its residents in the north of the borough. This ultimately led to my election as councillor representing the South Ward (neighbouring Dean Row) for Handforth Parish Council in March 2014 as an Independent.
"Handforth is fortunate in having two experienced independent Ward Councillors who I firmly believe will be re-elected. It is time Wilmslow has a Councillor who has no political agenda and who will represent residents views and not those of a particular party."
Toni says Wilmslow residents should vote for her because:
- I am a strong believer in preserving our, and the north of the borough's, valuable Green Belt land, whilst still recognising the area needs more housing.
- Remember it was Michael Jones in April 2012 who promised, as Council Leader, to Dean Row Residents that "he wouldn't allow" development at Adlington Road.
- Time after time Residents of Wilmslow has shown that the town's housing requirements are well ahead of the requirement for the Local Plan period to 2030. Cheshire East has refused to accept the build facts. We have shown there are enough brownfield sites plus windfall builds to take the town's build to between 800 to 1000 new homes to 2030, without destroying further Green Belt or Greenfield or Safeguarded (for future development) areas.
- It is time for a change, it is time for voters to be at the forefront, not at the whim of the Conservative Party's majority's wishes.
- I will be working for my constituents by putting "People before Party" at all times.
Residents should vote for me if......
- They would like a Councillor who is accessible and approachable
- They think party politics is unnecessary at local council level
- They oppose development of the greenbelt when there are brownfield sites and empty offices available
- They want an enthusiastic, proactive Councillor
- They want a Councillor who always acts in the best interests of the residents not of a party
- They want a Councillor who is experienced in delivering results
- And a councillor who will hold regular surgeries/drop in sessions for voters.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
a) She is independently minded;
b) She understand the need to ensure accountability and clarity in the awarding of monies;
c) She is aware of how the Cheshire East machine operates.
As far as I can see she has all the qualities I expect in a Councillor.
If I remember correctly you where not voted into HPC if I am wrong please tell me how many votes you got ?
In the upcoming election on 7th May Kerry Louise Burgess, Kerry Sullivan and Matthew Clark are candidates for the uncontested West Ward for Handforth Parish Council and Ian Ferguson, Frank McCarthy, Martin Watkins and the aforementioned David Pincombe are candidates for the uncontested Dean Row Ward for Wilmslow Town Council.
I trust you are not insinuating that these soon to be, new, or "re-elected" councillors have any less right to their positions than other councillors who are standing for contested wards?
It is up to individuals to decide if they wish to stand for election, and for which ward - they can hardly be blamed if no more than the required number for the ward choose to do so!
I am happy to answer any questions, queries, or concerns on here regarding my candidacy for the Dean Row Ward.
If, however, as a resident of Handforth, you wish to discuss issues with me about Handforth I would appreciate it if you could contact me directly either by phone, email via my HPC email address available through the council website, or, via the Parish Clerk.
It shows either a total ignorance of the democratic process or you have chosen to make a very cheap, stupid and totally unsubstantiated argument.
Don't criticise Cllr Fox if she did not have to face a contest against one of yours.
Rather like shooting the messenger!
Cllr Fox gave you a full and totally honest review of her election, as the election's history will show. I thought Cllr Fox was being entirely honest and fulsome with the facts.
Pray tell us, what do you find so dishonest about the true facts?
I'm certain that Toni FOX will make a refreshing change to the Cheshire East political scene when she and David JEFFERAY are elected as independent Residents of Wilmslow councillors. Both will act and speak for their Wilmslow voters, both will bring a high degree of openness, they will not be party to "behind the scenes" Conservative Party whip decisions, as we have seen acted by our current councillors to the detriment of their voters.
The housing developments are all interlinked and if passed by the Inspector they will produce absolute chaos on the roads and in the provision of local services not least in secondary education. Having been told to reconsider by the Inspector, you may rest assured that CEC will ‘tinker’ with the plan to get it passed by the Inspector later this year but the main aim will be keep as much of the original plan as possible. The local Conservative councillors have voted the plans through and have proved by their previous actions that they will always tow the party line no matter what they may say and believe themselves. The majority of Conservative councillors on CEC are perfectly happy to have all their future housing requirements dumped here (and at Crewe for the south of the borough) because it does not affect their own localities.
We need independent councillors who will fight our corner and Toni Fox will do this to the best of her ability no matter whose feet she stands on at CEC.