Welwyn Hatfield Liberal Democrats
Winning in Welwyn Hatfield
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Welwyn Hatfield Liberal Democrats Winning in Welwyn Hatfield |
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| Welwyn Hatfield Liberal Democrats | <info@welhatlibdems.co.uk> | 13th May 2008 |
Jonathan Arch
(Sherrards) Jonathan Arch moved to Welwyn Garden City in 1993 as an employee of SmithKline
Beecham and later GlaxoSmithKline. In 2001 he moved to the University of
Buckingham, continuing to research obesity and diabetes. Believing in justice,
fairness and liberty for every individual makes him instinctively a Liberal Democrat. At a local level, he is especially interested in environmental initiatives that promote a healthy lifestyle.Louise Lotz (Peartree)Louise Lotz has lived in Welwyn Garden City since 1983, first in Sherrards Ward, then later in Handside. Louise's children grew up in Welwyn Garden City, and went to Applecroft School. Louise is a former teacher and has also worked in local and London universities, helping disabled students with computing.
Louise has been involved in local politics for many years, and has been a candidate in Handside Ward, Sherrards Ward, but and Haldens.Louise is passionate about women's issues and disarmament, and cares deeply about the environment. Louise has been active for many years in local charities that support mothers and bereaved parents. Louise believes that crime in the area can be cut, and believes in a strong visible police force to serve and protect the local community from crime and vandalism. Louise will strive to ensure that community services are friendly and efficient, so that the residents of Peartree can take pride in their community. Shirley Shaw
(Panshanger)Having lived in Welwyn Garden City all her life, Shirley Shaw certainly has
the interests of our very special town at heart. She is saddened by an apparent
lack of concern about preserving the characteristics of the Garden City,
except, that is, on the part of the Lib Dems. As a retired teacher - she
taught at Sir Frederic Osborn School and later at Stanborough - she is concerned
about young people and the facilities available to them.Ian Skidmore
Ian Skidmore (Welwyn West) has lived in the Ward for the past 27 years,
his children went to St Mary's School and then to schools in WGC. He is a
Parish Councillor in Welwyn and chair of the Council Finance Committee. He
is also secretary of the Welwyn Parish Plan Steering Committee. In his spare
time he runs a consultancy advising Biotechnology companies on Drug Discovery
and Development. Ian is a firm believer in the Liberal Democrat principle
of responsible and accountable local government. While acknowledging that
both can be improved he is committed to the NHS and to state education.Simon Archer
(Welham Green) Simon Archer, aged 56, has lived in Hatfield since 1978, working for the local bus company (originally London Country and now Arriva). Simon and his wife Sheila have been involved with St John's Church and with the Youth & Community Centre on the Hilltop for nearly 30 years, where Sheila ran the Pre-school Playgroup and still runs the Mums & Toddlers Group.
Currently Treasurer for the Welwyn Hatfield Liberal Democrats, Simon has a keen interest in Local Government funding and wishes to see greater value for money for Council Tax payers. Frank Marsh
(Peartree) Frank Marsh has worked in Welwyn Garden City for 12 years for a local firm of Solicitors as a personal injury and litigation lawyer. He also lives in the town with his wife and children who go to local schools. Frank has always taken an interest in helping people both in his professional working life and life outside work. Says Frank: "For too long Labour have taken Peartree residents for granted. Too often, Peartree Labour councillors do not turn up for meetings."
Frank's personal statement follows: 1. ON CRIME: Our recent Crime Survey showed that people wanted a higher visible presence from the Police. This I will fight for. Whilst there is also too much anti-social behaviour in the area, people must report problems to the Police and Street Wardens. I will work with local groups to fight for decent facilities for young people, so they have a real alternative to being on the streets. 2. THE STREETS: Your Lib Dem County Councillor Malcolm Cowan and I have carried out a survey of the whole ward. As a result, several roads have now been added to the schedule for resurfacing in the coming year. Another problem we found was the large number of telecoms boxes open with wires exposed which we have reported and await action. 3. HOUSING: I will fight for the the best possible maintenance of council-owned housing. The Tories plan for privatising what is a successful and popular repairs service is very bad news. I am also determined to tackle the problem of not enough affordable housing in the borough. Malcolm Cowan
(Peartree) Malcolm Cowan has lived in the Garden City with his wife Linda since 1972 and his children went to local schools.
Malcolm was a district councillor from 1986 to 1990. He worked for many years in the City, and is now self employed. Malcolm is a county councillor for Handside and Peartree. Malcolm is a keen gardener and a long-standing member of the executive committee of the Welwyn Garden City Society. Malcolm, has worked tirelessly to ensure good transport conditions for local residents. Now at last, some improvements to the Oldings roundabout have been made following Malcolm's intervention. Says Malcolm "Why is the roundabout near Stanborough Lakes decorated with a boat that is already rotting away - is this a symbol of the town? Better would have been to restore paddling pools for the children ahead of any 'symbolic' gesture." For many years, the Liberal Democrats campaigned for a quieter road surface. One by one, the other parties joined us. Thanks to Malcolm, and others, we now have it, although the noise problems persist and Malcolm is keen to see more action taken. John Blackburn
(Welwyn West) John Blackburn has lived in Welwyn for 31 years. He is retired having worked in the Pharmaceutical Industry for 37 years. He has four children all of whom have now flown the nest.
For the last four years he has served as a Welwyn Parish Councillor and is currently vice-chairman of the Council and chair of the Allotments, Cemeteries and Churchyard Committee. John has worked hard for the people of Welwyn having been involved in the Youth Working Party responsible for erecting the new youth shelter at White hill. He has also involved in responding to the recent Parish Plan questionnaire and currently leads the Traffic sub-committee. He is chair of the working party which is preparing for the Cleaner Villages Week in June, a new initiative to improve the appearance of Welwyn Parish, which was first run by the Parish Council in 2006. He is a firm believer in Liberal Democrat principles that Local Government should be open and responsive to the needs of the community. He believes strongly in protecting the quality of the local environment. He is a very positive supporter of the NHS while believing that it needs to be more responsive to local customer needs. Nigel Bain
(Northaw) Nigel Bain is a long-standing member of the Liberal and
Liberal Democrat Party and has fought many local elections.
He has lived in Hatfield for the last seventeen years and been a Governor of Bishop's Hatfield Girls' School for seven years, serving on the main committees. Other local interests include Neighbourhood Watch Co-Ordinator and Editing the Northaw and Cuffley Parish Magazine. He is an active member of the local Group of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) of which he is a Fellow. For the CIPR he has led seminars in Corporate Social Responsibility organised in conjunction with The Business School of the University of Hertfordshire. Jenny Blumsom
(Brookman's Park) Jenny Blumsom is a long-standing member of the Liberal and
Liberal Democrat Party and has fought many local elections.
Jenny Blumsom has lived and worked in Hertfordshire all her life; both her grown-up children were born in Hertford and she has lived in Brookmans Park for the past 30 years. She is a Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator. She is particularly concerned about environmental pollution, crime, young peoples' behaviour, learning difficulties and the causal links between them. Now retired, she has been a governor of Northaw C of E Primary School for many years, is active in the parish of Northaw and Cuffley and sings in the choir of St Thomas à Becket. Sheila Archer
(Hatfield South) Sheila Archer lives in Hatfield and works for the educational charity Pre-School Learning
Alliance as a book-keeper and administrator. She is concerned that the town centre development shoul be delayed no longer. She wants to challenge the Tory county council on its schools policies, that have led to the closure of New Briars and Stream Woods schools, and she would like the council to come up with some workable plans to deal with the parking problems of Hatfield residents.
Sheila has a long involvement with community projects in Hatfield. Lis Meyland-Smith
(Hatfield East) Lis is a teacher. After a long career during which she became a deputy head-mistress, she has reduced her teaching commitment to supply teaching, to allow her time to pursue other interests, including helping Hazel Laming, Hatfield Central's Liberal Democrat councillor on both the District and Town Councils. For some years Lis was Agent for the Welwyn Hatfield Liberal Democrats, and has been the editor of our FOCUS newsletters in Hatfield, keeping you in touch with Hazel's work.
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