THE Conservatives today named their candidate for next week’s Warrington Borough Council by election at Chapelford and Old Hall.
He is former borough and parish councillor Phil Hayward, who is already heavily involved in local community and voluntary work.
Five people will be contesting the by election caused by the resignation of Labour’s Faisal Rashid following his election as an MP.
Mr Hayward is a “Game Changer” with the Warrington Wolves Foundation and works in the community, helping at care homes and on the dementia ward at Warrington Hospital.
He is also a Diabetes UK “Voice” promoting better outcomes and treatment for people living with diabetes.
Mr Hayward intends to “hit the ground running” by drawing on his previous experience as both a borough and parish councillor in Warrington and, while working in Oxfordshire, as a town councillor and as Mayor in Didcot.
He and his family returned to Warrington in 2014, settling in Chapelford.
He said: “This year, I hope to be able to use my experience of representing the “New Town” areas of Birchwood, to support improvements and build positive links between the various agencies, community groups, businesses and residents, for the benefit of our community in Chapelford and Old Hall.
“The Labour administration in Warrington face challenges on many issues at present; these include their Local Plan, their decision on the Western Link proposal and the spiralling cost and poor management of the Sankey Leisure Hub Development. These developments are having a direct impact on our community, wasting public funds (our money) and ultimately not
prioritising spending where it is most needed.
“Labour now has an unchallenged stranglehold on our town; their decisions and motives need to be scrutinised and they ultimately need to be held to account – this is my intention.
“If you want a hard working and community minded councillor, then vote for me. I will not just be another ‘Yes Man’ to the local Labour Group and my experience will enable me to create pressure where it is needed and the action residents request.”
Other candidates in the by election are: Paul Warburton (Labour), Alan Bird (Liberal Democrat), Stephanie Davies (Green Party), Ian Wilson (UKIP).
