Futures Forum: Devon County Council elections 4th May
And the Vision Group for Sidmouth are organising the Devon County Council Hustings for Sidmouth - to be held in Sidmouth at Kennaway House on Friday April 28th at 7pm.
Three candidates have so far declared:
East Devon Alliance’s Paul Arnott to challenge Tory Stuart Hughes for county seat
PUBLISHED: 16:15 10 March 2017 | UPDATED: 17:41 10 March 2017
EDA's Paul Arnott.
East Devon Alliance’s Paul Arnott to challenge Conservative Stuart Hughes, with Labour’s Ray Davison also in the running.
Cllr Stuart Hughes, Conservative.
A leading figure in the East Devon Alliance (EDA) is to challenge Sidmouth’s long-standing Tory representative for the town’s seat on Devon County Council (DCC) - with a Labour candidate also standing.
The alliance is fielding three independents to challenge seats in Sidmouth, Seaton and Colyton and Axminster – and the trio have presented a united voice in their promise to fight for transparency and NHS services.
Independents are hoping to see a repeat of their success in the district council elections of May 2015 – when they gained 10 seats across the region and ousted six Conservative councillors in the Sid Valley alone.
EDA Paul Arnott, former chaoorman of the group, will challenge Councillor Stuart Hughes for Sidmouth’s county council seat in the elections on May 4.
Ray Davison, Labour.
An East Devon resident of 20 years and former parish councillor, Mr Arnott is a father-of-four who runs a television production company, along with his wife Lydia, and has had three books published.
As a ‘passionate and outspoken’ defender of the NHS in East Devon, he promises to fight at county level to address the ‘major issues of health, social care and education’ which, he says, are ‘now a matter of urgent concern’.
The EDA says it supports independent candidates who are responsible, and answerable, to the electors, rather than a national party machine.
A spokesman said: “Like all local authorities, DCC is facing an unprecedented long-term loss of funding and jurisdiction. Once elected, Independent EDA county councillors will use their positions to campaign for fair funding for local services and ensure local democratic control - rather than allowing central government and corporations to increasingly privatise everything which affects our communities.”
Cllr Hughes – who is also the cabinet member for highways and represents Sidmouth at town and district level – confirmed he will stand for re-election as a Conservative. He pledged to provide a strong voice for the Sid Valley and give 100 per cent in his community leadership role, working with residents, groups and the town and district councils.
Cllr Hughes added that he will continue to champion the cycle and footpath links across the Sid
Valley, fast implementation of the town’s flood alleviation scheme and work on the traffic management plan and Alma Bridge.
Labour’s Ray Davison has also confirmed he will be standing as a candidate for Sidmouth and believes the Tories will be under fire in the upcoming county elections because of the ‘refusal’ by central Government to provide more social care funding.
The father-of-three has lived in East Devon for more than 30 years and pledges to focus on issues of education, transport and education investment in the region.
Further candidates were yet to
be announced.
East Devon Alliance’s Paul Arnott to challenge Tory Stuart Hughes for county seat - News - Sidmouth Herald
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