Stratford politics won’t be party to Westminster woes

The Conservatives hope to strengthen their hold on power with 19 of the authority’s 53 seats to be contested, among them Burton Dassett, Claverdon, Harbury, Kineton, Southam and Wellesbourne in the Courier readership area.

Liberal Democrats form the principal opposition, but the Greens are fielding candidates in Kineton and Wellesbourne and Labour’s 18 hopefuls are aiming to win votes from Lib Dem supporters disenchanted by the coalition.

A former district councillor for one-time Labour stronghold Southam, Carol Pratt believes she needs 300 more votes.

She cites the district council asking town councils to contribute to the cost of CCTV and delays in redeveloping Southam town centre as evidence that it neglects rural areas.

She said: “Stratford District Council is very Stratford-centred and forgets its rural hinterland. We need to have people there who would be a strong voice.”

The district council’s leader Cllr Chris Saint (Con, Tredington) denied this, saying rural areas had equal representation. He added that sharing costs of CCTV was being paid willingly by parish and town councils across the district. and pointed to the council’s opposition to wind farms and high speed rail as evidence that it took voters’ concerns seriously.

With a double-dip recession now a reality, he stressed that Stratford area’s economy was still strong and that the authority supported its small and medium-sized businesses.

He added: “We have good service delivery and operate with economic common sense.”

David Johnston, who is standing in Wellesbourne for the Liberal Democrats, says people on the doorstep are not concerned by his party’s actions in Westminster, but were worried about planning and development. Liberal Democrats and Conservatives in Stratford district have similar concerns, favouring small developments for local people rather than large new estates for commuters.

But Mr Johnston said Tories had celebrated cutting costs when they could have protected services by collaborating with neighbouring authorities.

He said: “People from Wellesboune, Kineton and Southam look to Warwick and Leamington more as commercial centres. There are ways to cut costs without cutting services and they haven’t been exploited as much as they could be.”

Trying to rise above party politics is Harbury councillor Bev Mann, who will be standing as an independent. But she says this is not because of her former party’s role in the coalition.

She said: “Standing as an Independent councillor means I am not tied to a political party and therefore can vote in the best interests of Harbury ward.

“During my four years as a Liberal Democrat councillor I am very aware of how much strategic voting goes on from both of the main parties which is not, I believe, always in the best interests of residents.

“At this low level of politics I believe more cooperation would be more beneficial to the council and also for residents than trying to score party points.”

No representative of the Green Party had responded to the Courier’s request for an interview at the time of going to press.

Polls will be open from 7am to 10pm. The result is expected at around 3am on May 4.