Veteran councillor Les to step down

LONG-serving councillor Les Hoyle is not to seek re-election to Warrington Borough Council this coming May.
Les (pictured), who has represented Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft for the Conservatives for most of the past 28 years, has decided to retire because of personal and family commitments.
But he plans to continue as a member of Croft Parish Council – of which he is currently chairman – and as a governor at Croft Primary School.
During his time as a councillor Les has worked on many borough council committees and is a former chairman of the planning committee.
He says one of his toughest, but most rewarding, roles was representing the borough council as chairman of bus company Network Warrington.
He also served as a magistrate for almost 30 years.
Les said: “I have thought long and hard before taking this decision and now it’s made I would like to say thank you to the many residents who have supported me as their Warrington borough councillor.
“Over the years I have met with many residents of Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft, working to help them through many issues.
“I would also like to thank the many officers and staff of the borough council who I have worked with. Thanks also to fellow councillors – although on some occasions we were on the opposite side of the political chamber, generally after the debate, respect was renewed and all continued to work for the greater benefit of all the residents of Warrington.”
“I will continue working as a parish councillor on Croft Parish Council and I am looking forward to finding even more time for this after May.
“In retiring from borough council politics I would also like to pay tribute to and thank my friends and family, with special thanks for the wonderful support I have always received from my wife Kathyrne.”
Cllr Keith Bland, chairman of the Warrington North Conservatives, said:
“I would like to thank Les personally for all he has done both as a councillor and as a member of the Conservative Party. Les has been an outstanding councillor who has represented his ward with dignity and strength throughout the years. He will be sorely missed as a councillor, but I am glad to say he will still be around to pass on his great depth of experience to those who need it.
“We are currently selecting candidates for all the wards up for election on May 22 and an announcement of who will be standing where will be made shortly.”