The 'Residents of Wilmslow' Group (RoW) has selected Philip Enstone to represent them as a candidate in the forthcoming Wilmslow Town Council by-election.
He will be competing against Conservative candidate Philip Barton for the Dean Row ward vacancy on Thursday, 22nd August.
Following the resignation of the Dean Row councillor Joanne Milnes last month, RoW contacted local residents to garner support for a candidate to stand on its platform of opposing any development on local Green Belt. The Dean Row area is considered particularly under threat by residents, as Cheshire East Council's draft development strategy proposes the development of 225 houses on land off Adlington Road.
Married with a young daughter Philip has lived in Dean Row for quite a few years and has supported all the initiatives the 'Friends of Dean Row' and 'Residents of Wilmslow' Group have launched during their short existence.
Philip Enstone works for the NHS as Head of Estates and Facilities at the nationwide NHS Blood and Transplant Services. He has regular dealings with architects, developers and builders and shares RoWs' aims and objectives to prevent any development on Wilmslow's Green Belt.
Philip is Deputy Chair of the Trustees of Greenbank Preparatory School and to relax he plays golf, he is a past Captain and President of his golf Club in Poynton.
Speaking about why he decided to stand as a candidate Philip told wilmslow.co.uk "I want to ensure there is a voice of reason to support Dean Row householders in particular and the wider Wilmslow public in their challenges to stop property developers building on and destroying the town's valuable and protective Green Belt.
"I will fully support Residents of Wilmslow in its fight against the council and government to ensure brownfield sites and vacant office space are utilised fully as the first line of any development within Wilmslow."
He added "I fully and wholeheartedly support the Residents of Wilmslow's stance to say no development on any of our Green Belt, for whatever reason. Unlike the party on the Town Council which has endorsed commercial development on Green Belt at Royal London."
Speaking about the most important issues facing Wilmslow and the priorities for the Town Council, Philip said "I will ensure the residents of Dean Row and Wilmslow's people at large have a voice by an individual who lives in their ward. I would like to see more councillors who are not supported by a political party and are a resident of their ward.
"As I work in the service industry I would, if elected, assist local residents with any issue and provide feedback that meets their requirements."
He added "I am very concerned with the initial tentative proposals from Cheshire East for the "development" of our town centre amenities, such as the suggested proposals to move the library to the high school, the site then to be sold for development, the muted thoughts that the Rectory Field be sold to a supermarket group and the leisure centre being moved to the high school. I would like the council to retain these highly prized amenities to remain where they are. An important issue for Wilmslow is to maintain an environment where people can relax, enjoy their pastime with unspoilt landscapes."
Philip continued "I would work with other councillors to improve the environment including ensuring we maintain a town that caters fully for the disabled and address sustainability issues. I have no political alliance to any national party."
Residents of Wilmslow (RoW) came into being 18 months ago through the amalgamation of local groups of residents concerned with Cheshire East Council's and H M Government's attempts to propose building on Wilmslow's Green Belt. Its overall aim is to protect all of Wilmslow's Green Belt, save the town from urban sprawl and overspill from the Greater Manchester conurbation which the group feels would destroy the town.
The by-election to fill the vacancy for the Wilmslow Dean Row ward of the town will take place on Thursday 22nd August and polling hours will be from 7am to 10pm.
Click here to view the article about the other person standing in this by-election, the Conservative candidate Philip Barton.
The Wilmslow Dean Row Ward By-election tag below can be used to link all the articles.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
That is not to say that the current Town Council is not beginning to make an impact on the Town but that a voice from outside of the Party ranks is to be welcomed. I hope he is, with no disrespect to the other candidate(s), overwhelmingly successful.
However, in the interest of fairness, I do expect the other candidate(s) to be given the
same exposure on the website as has been given to Mr Enstone. Hopefully, next week's
edition will include a summary of Mr Barton's aspirations and priorities.
same exposure on my website, as it says in the article above "We will be publishing an article shortly about other person standing in this by-election, the Conservative candidate Philip Barton."
I am currently waiting for the information to publish an article about Philip Barton.
PS Phil I have a suitable tree to put your sign on right on Dean Row Road ??? You know where I am, just bring one round !!!
I'm looking forward to reading what the conservative candidate has to say.
However, I'm not at all sure that 3 family members will be good for WTC.
Mr Enstone's career and his experience gains us a great deal of wisdom and understanding. He knows the big picture hereabouts and all that includes. Delighted that he is standing.
Really does feel right, UNLESS CEC and WTC agree to all points raised by the Residents of Wilmslow.
Mr Osborne and Mr Jones have stated their support of course, but we need action not hollow words.