In the run up to the local elections on May 2nd I am publishing brief interviews with each of the candidates - standing for seats on both the Town Council and Cheshire East Council - that respond to my request, in the order in which they respond.
To read interviews with other candidates you will be able to click on the tags at the bottom of the article. For example, pieces on the other candidates for the Wilmslow Town Council election will all be tagged 'Wilmslow Town Council 2019 Election'. Candidates representing the same party or group will also be connected via the tags, candidates competing in the same ward will be connected by tags as well and all articles will be tagged '2019 Local Elections'.
Don Stockton is a Conservative Party candidate for the Lacey Green ward on Cheshire East Council.
Don is 57 years old and a chartered mining engineer who worked in North Staffordshire and Lancashire coal mines over a thirteen year period. He has been a local ward councillor for Wilmslow Lacey Green for the past 8 years.
He told me "I strongly believe in responsibility over entitlement, less bureaucracy, a smaller state and the Council helping others to help themselves. I believe that our residents know best how to spend their own money and am proud that this council takes as little as it can whilst maintaining a balanced budget and maintaining vital services. I ensure that every decision I make aligns with my principles."
Are you a member of any local groups or societies?
I chair the Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund which has given significant contributions to many local organisations. I have attended Styal Parish Council on a regular basis and have also served on planning both as a member and visiting speaker on behalf of local people. I am also hon Vice President of the Tatton Conservative Association.
Why have you decided to stand for re-election as a ward councillor for Wilmslow?
I am grateful to you for having been a representative of this area and would wish to continue in order to be able to bring properly thought out and acceptable solutions to the problems of parking across Wilmslow.
I want to open up access to the Dean Valley for you to enjoy and get the green bin collected all year round without a break over the Christmas period.
I also wish to maintain and improve the recycling record of this area as I know that local people take pride in the environment in which we all live.
What do you think have been your biggest achievements as a councillor in the past 4 years?
I am particularly pleased with the 3 bin collection system across the borough and the fact that CEC is in the top 10% of borough councils for recycling. I am proud that I have been absolutely instrumental in bringing forward a plan to collect food waste and the green bin fortnightly all year round without the break over winter. Something I want to be able to see brought into effect.
I used my influence to ensure it was Wilmslow that was considered first in the parking reviews that have been proposed across the borough. I want to be re-elected to ensure that it is the residents' suggestions and wishes that are implemented as a result of this review, not those schemes whose supporters have simply made the most noise. I want CEC to take account of displacement parking, and I am particularly keen to see solved the problem of parking in residential roads in Wilmslow to the north of the Bollin River.
What have been your biggest disappointments as a councillor in the past 4 years?
When you do your best for local people it is disappointing to read the attractive promises that are made by other candidates in election season. The constant cry that you have done little and if only they were elected all things would be much better.
In order to have greater influence a ward councillor needs to be part of the majority group. I very much hope that this council remains Conservative. It also helps if you are a cabinet member and it really helps if you are concise and don't make promises you can't keep. These positions are difficult for councillors to achieve but I have held them because of your support.
All achievements take team effort and that is why minority parties on Cheshire East like Labour and the Lib Dems have little chance of fulfilling their promises. They promise to spend money on popular causes but would not have the money to achieve them without fleecing hard pressed council tax payers.
What do you consider to be the important issues facing Wilmslow?
Clearly parking and the state of our roads are major issues but we are addressing these within the means available to us through the Wilmslow parking review and CEC following an evidence led approach to the management of our highways. This means that we spend money effectively and as a result are awarded money from central government - taking some of the strain away from local council tax payers.
Although not in Wilmslow itself, Styal is in the Wilmslow Lacey Green ward and I am conscious of working for the whole ward. I consider speed limits on Station Road, Styal and the positioning of 30mph signs on Styal road in Wilmslow to be in need of review. In addition to the Wilmslow parking difficulties, I wish to address parking difficulties on Altrincham road in Styal for which I have lined up finance from the Area Highways Group CEC
What do you hope to achieve and how in the next 4 years?
I am proud to have been a representative of this area and would wish to continue in order to be able to bring to a properly thought out and acceptable solution to the problems of parking across the Wilmslow area.
I want to open up access to the Dean valley for the public to enjoy. I have attended meetings between CEC the National Trust, Natural England the Canal and Rivers trust and other stakeholders in order to assist in putting together a green infrastructure plan for CEC - a part of which I am pressing to have included being the Dean Valley.
I want to get the green bin collected all year round without a break over the Christmas period. Part of my responsibilities as a cabinet member have included waste collection. I have already pressed for a composting site in Crewe in order to collect combined green and food waste, this should be available for next winter in order to enable all year round collection.
I also wish to maintain and improve the recycling record of this area as I know that local people take pride in the environment in which we all live, and keeping food waste out of the black bin will help achieve this.
What experience and personal qualities will you bring to the role and why should Wilmslow residents vote for you?
I now have a great deal of experience of local government, I know what councils can do and what they can't. I have worked hard to gain this experience, as being effective in local government requires all but full-time work - something those holding other full time occupations can find difficult to achieve. I respect them for trying and wish them luck if you elect them over me. I hope that I can speak for all candidates in this election when I state that I believe in democracy and wish everyone to cast their vote so that it is you who decide who is best placed to represent us. You have a choice of myself as the Conservative candidate, living in our ward, or a Labour candidate who lives on Colshaw Farm, or the Lib Dem candidate.
A vote for me is a vote for the Conservative principles I stand for, which are to keep council tax as low as possible whilst maintaining public services as much as is possible.
Opposition promises and attacks are easy to make. Keeping promises is more difficult. A vote for myself, Don Stockton, is a vote for experience, knowledge, hard work, and maintaining the influence our ward currently has on Cheshire East Council.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
You bleat about the state of the roads but you have been the cabinet member in charge of our out-sourced Highways Dept since Councillor Brown had to step down under Police investigation.
You say that you live in Lacey Green but you are still showing Cottage Lawns in Alderley Edge as your address on the list of Councillors Assets on the CEC website, is an update required?
It sounds like Cllr Stockton is offering to deliver a service that CEC has already committed to deliver in Summer/Autumn 2019 (15 year contract has been signed and planning permission is apparently in place). Just put the following phrase into your search engine of choice to see a selection of press releases:
food composting plant at Leighton Grange
It could be of course that the cabinet member knows something that is not in the public domain and so needs to fight on behalf of the electorate...
Cheshire East is a large and complex organisation and new Councillors can take a long time to navigate its structure. It's a steep learning curve
Experience counts!
Re: 'Cheshire East is a large and complex organisation and new Councillors can take a long time to navigate its structure.'
Perhaps working in mines has helped the councillor in this matter.
However, I do find myself agreeing that Don Stockton does have a proven track record.
I live in the Ward on Lacey Green & people round here tell me that Cllr Stockton lives in Alderley Edge. I'm more confident in what my friends & neighbours tell me.
As for the arrogance that no other candidate has worthwhile experience, sufficient time or ability. I'm more than confident that myself or the non-Tory candidates could provide much more effective representation - we actually take time to talk to people from the Ward & respond to their requests with courtesy.
We could improve things by actually attending Council meetings - how is your poor 68% attendance representing us?
I didn't just stand to be 'opposition', I stood to give people the chance to remove a bunch of self-obsessed Councillors that have made Cheshire East a National laughing stock.
I stood to provide a people with an option to make some real positive change and Wilmslow a much better place to live.
It's where I live and my family & neighbours deserve much better.
Damian
I remember hearing Cllr Jim Crockett telling the new Wilmslow Town Council, more than once, to remember that they were there to serve the electorate, not to rule them. Wise words, which went unheeded.
Is there anyone who can vouch that he lives in Lacey Green?
You say " Experience counts !"
Well you are right Ruth it does and residents have experienced enough of Tory run Cheshire East to last a long time thank you very much.
If you are in any doubt about how effective they are and how they "listen to residents", then jump in the car and come up to Summerfields Village.
And then Ruth, witness firsthand what Cheshire East planning gave planning approval to cheek by jowel with homes on Summerfields Village.
Residents are asking where does the experience count here on Summerfields?
Damian- presumably his address is on the ‘statement as to person nominated’ that you will have seen as a fellow nominee in the ward?
The old brigade need to read Gray's Elergy and be a little more humble.
He could defend himself instead of leaving it to your wife, but that may lead to questions he may not want to answer. Like
does he have a home in Alderley Edge too?
For your information Wilmslow Lacey Green Ward contains the whole of Styal, a significant part of Wilmslow and the whole of Lacey Green.
I hope to represent Wilmslow Lacey Green Ward, again, should i be re-elected on May 2nd. I have the “experience” to know the area very well and I hope that this, along with my interview above, will help me gain your further support at this election.
But you are rumoured to live in Alderley Edge. Why is that? Do you own two or more homes? If so, why have you registered to vote in one rather than the other? What’s the story?
Anyway, on the way back there was that much thunder and lightning that I dashed in to see if one of the 'silent' councillors had posted something but alas they had not.
Still coming across rather pompous when the only 'experience' I take from your statement is that after 8 years you're getting the green bins emptied in winter & a review of parking - nice one!
As for 'balancing budgets & saving taxpayer money' with your Tory chums! What about all the money that's been wasted by Police investigations & badly managed Council paying £1154 a day to a temporary officer - great work Pal!
It's rubbish like this that has damaged the UK nationally & locally and we need an injection of energy & new ideas.
If you read my statement you'll see that my own 'experience' has already achieved far more than that already - with the support of my neighbours & friends in Wilmslow Lacey Green Ward (is that ok now?) I'll achieve far more in 8 months than you have in 8 years mate!
If you are going to make public statements get your facts right ,don't make
wild claims take a little time and research the truth is out there .
Fact Don Stockton lives in Lacey Green his address is on his leaflets and he
is not hiding
Fact Don has attended many Styal Parish council meetings (there is a slot for his report ) and is constantly fighting to resolve the matters raised. Unlike those who claim to have made many visits two in reality and claim to be close to village matters but don't even live in the ward.
Fact Don is on the road at 8 am most days traveling on your behalf to meetings all over Cheshire East fighting for you .his attendance record is excellent give that
he was forced to take time out due to ill health ,now full recovered .
Fact Don has an excellent contact network with the Police ,Manchester Airport National Trust and the many Cheshire East departments, only gained by hard work and a proven desire to serve the local people
Fact Don is a silent man to quote and earlier comment. Wisdom is for the thoughtful
Empty vessels make most noise. Actions speak louder then words
Fact Don has been working for the passed eight years on your behalf with a great deal of success he is best placed to carry this work forward ,others just want to squander your tax on poorly thought out vote catching or self promoting projects.
I have lived in Styal for forty five years and know the area very well .
Don's record is one of continuity he attends the Parish council meetings take the flak as he should and shoulders his burden ,he has made Styal a safer place to live in lower speed limits pedestrian crossings etc continues to fight for more planned parking and better police
presence where possible. .he has a vision for a better future and will do his best to deliver.
Don is a man dedicated to his job the local area and you , that's why he
moved several yeas ago to live in Lacey Green.
I must say being able to post this has given me great pleasure. I cannot wait for the ill-informed and the noisy minority to reply.
The declaration form requires the nature of the interest (owner, tenant, partner of owner or tenant) to be declared, not just that there is an interest.
If there are outstanding questions regarding his interest in the Alderley Edge home the responsibility is the candidates.
It’s just one of the important legal responsibilities of public office but vital for public confidence.
Don: Suggest you mitigate by declaring now.
Declaration here: https://twitter.com/oliverromain70/status/1121881452222742528
I didn’t realise that it was necessary to live in one’s constituency.
Do you know what his or his partners’ interest is in each property? Not from that declaration you don’t. So the interest is not declared.
Don may have been confused by the wording of the declaration or not read it properly. We don’t know but he could set the record straight at any time.
As Portfolio Holder for Environment surely he should have mentioned the deliberate falsification of air quality data? This has possibly led to planning consents being given where they should not. Reportedly this is one of the eight formal Police investigations on-going at CEC.
I cannot imagine who would have falsified these figures, or why; although persons with more knowledge than myself have asserted that CEC is in thrall of property developers.
But just because you’re Portfolio Holder for Environment, you can’t be expected to know that some buffoon has bungled the air quality figures and that a sizeable development like The Hanging Gardens Of Handforth is riding on the back of it.......can you?
Well, as Portfolio Holder... that means what? No one else to hold responsible, if it goes well, accept the accolades, if not, do the right thing.
Average remuneration seems to work out at £33000 per annum for this post (source CEC website).
Who falsified the air quality data, why did they do this, why would they do this? Three simple questions that the Portfolio Holder should have asked... unless he already knew the answer.
There is a time for being silent and a time to speak; especially if you want anybody to vote for you.
The Police investigation seems to be taking an inordinate amount of time but, hopefully, for us Council Tax Payers, we will get an answer.
Police? I remember them..... lovely chaps.... stopped the baddies / helped the goodies.
Then they got emasculated by politicians, powers cut, budgets cut, PCC to watch over them, check every move they made, every thought they thunk.....write it all down in reports and performance related target nonsense.
The villains loved it ‘cos they could just “crack-on”
Don’t worry, the PCSO’s will step up (can’t trust a special like the old time bobbies when you can’t find yer way ‘ome!)
I can imagine that THAT enquiry might drag on a while yet!
Drain the swamp!
I have given my postal vote to someone else. I have not voted Conservative because Cheshire East Council is overrun by them and we need a change. I would say the same if we had been ‘governed’ for so long by Labour, Liberal, Greens, Pinks, Dog-Lovers-For-Ever or Martians!
Personally I have also not voted for Mr Stockton because he has not resolved the complaints by the residents of our street regarding the parking issues that has turned our road into a one-way street. Then add to this all the other parking problems in Wilmslow and the message is ‘too little, too late’ - so TIME YOU ARE OUT - Mr Stockton and Cheshire East Conservatives!
I am not convinced that Mr Stockton has acted in our interests regarding the addition of local housing. It is all too much too soon.
I received a ‘begging letter’ to vote for him where he says he knows I have a postal vote. Is this not confidential information and is he not using his office as a local councillor to access and use this information that might not perhaps be available to the other candidates?
I have recently had experience of the Cheshire East planning department and can say I think it’s a mess. There is little means of contact. It seems to be run by youngsters with not much experience.
Ever tried to get in touch with TRADING STANDARDS? It seems to be a ‘virtual’ department these days.
Have you noticed that the grids in Wilmslow mostly seem to be blocked which is why we have big puddles around our locality. I brought this to Councillor Stockton’s attention in 2011 and most of them are still blocked. Have a look next time you walk around town.
Why is it permitted to park all day in a cycle lane? Any cyclist reading this should vote for someone who is going to make cycle lanes permanent and free of parked cars. Don Stockton as our local Councillor has not changed them.
The Alderley Edge bypass is a narrow two-lane road, without a central barrier to prevent head-on collisions, and a speed limit of 60mph. Parts of the A34 bypass and the new airport link road are dual lane highways separated by a central reservation to minimise head on collisions - yet the speed limit is as low as 50mph. Who ‘planned’ this anomaly then? The speed limit should be 30mph.
Another councillor [Wilmslow Town Council] who espoused ‘Road safety’ is Chetan Katre. Unfortunately he is returned as a councillor as Wilmslow East ward is uncontested since there are 4 candidates for 4 council positions.