FARNHAM voters will go to the polls this Thursday (May 2) to elect 18 new councillors across Farnham Town Council’s nine wards.

In the build-up to the local elections, the Herald offered each candidate the chance to submit a 150-word statement, setting out in their own words why the deserve your vote on May 2.

These are listed below, in alphabetical order by ward then candidate.

Elections for borough councillors will also happen on this day, with the borough council candidates posted in a separate article on the Herald website (link below).

County council elections will take place in 2021.

Polling will take place between 7am and 10pm at polling stations across the borough of Waverley.

The counting of votes for borough council elections will take place on Friday (May 3), with the town and parish counts to follow on Saturday (May 4).

The results will be published live from the count on the Herald website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

SHORTHEATH AND BOUNDSTONE

* Liane Chancellor (Con)

Liane has lived in or near Farnham since 1974. She was attracted to the area by the architecture of the town and the beauty of the surrounding countryside.

Liane brought up three children in Farnham and feels it remains a delightful place in which to raise a young family, with a wealth of activities available for all ages. She has been volunteering since her schooldays and retains a keen interest in helping others.

Liane’s interests are many and varied and she is an active member of several local groups, including the Arts Society. She is a keen gardener and an avid cinema-goer.

Liane was involved in the preparation of the Farnham Neighbourhood Plan and wishes to ensure its success in protecting the town from inappropriate development. She wishes to be elected to Farnham Town Council, to help preserve the special nature of Farnham.

* Andrew Jones (Lab)

I am a self-employed gardener with experience as a parish councillor, community fundraiser, with a proven record of public service for many years. 

My two priorities in 2019 are, first, to preserve all those services currently being withdrawn from children as a result of conservative cuts. The other is to support those older residents, who gave so much in World War Two. No person should suffer because of where they live, but even in rich Surrey there is a hardship. We will campaign against this. We will do what we can to highlight planning abuse in Farnham. People need homes and houses need building, being mindful of not overloading local services. Farnham needs a sensible local plan to cater for that. It hasn’t got one. Why? The Conservatives can do what they like at Waverley because of their large majority. You deserve representation too. Vote Labour and get it.

* Lara King (Con)

Lara is one of our area’s youngest Conservative candidates. A recent history and politics graduate from the University of Southampton, Lara is now studying at Farnham’s University for the Creative Arts. Lara supports a number of charities including St John Ambulance and the Royal British Legion. If elected Lara will be a visible, vocal advocate for residents and hopes to be able to make improvements in line with her beliefs in conservation and the environment. Lara would like to secure funding to construct an accessible community sensory garden on land near Green Lane cemetery. She would also like to act as liaison for local issues outside the remit of the town council such as speeding on Sandrock Hill and Green Lane, both of which present a risk to all residents but more especially children using those roads as part of their walk-to-school routes.

* Theresa Meredith-Hardy (Lib Dem)

Theresa is a Shortheath and Boundstone resident, who lives with her husband and little girl. She entered local politics to try to make the community a better place, to bring up issues that matter and give support to those that need it. Since living in the area she has carried out charity work for the local community and is a school governor. If elected, Theresa would hold the Conservative-led council to account, asking difficult questions and demanding that developers pay their way to help sustain local services which are being drastically cut. As a mum, she also feels strongly about the issue of poor air quality and keeping Farnham the special place it is for the next generation.

* Kika Mirylees (Farnham Residents)

Kika Mirylees has lived in Farnham for 24 years. Her mum studied Fine Art at what is now the UCA. An actress/writer and drama teacher she also works with people who have addictions and PDSD alongside a therapist using her horses (equine-assisted psychotherapy) Having once been a cook she now cooks for the homeless at Xmas. 

A believer in localism and not interested in party politics she has five main agendas: 1. More for the young people in the town –  a recording studio, theatre space, community hub. 2. Proper protection from out-of-town developers ignoring the neighbourhood plan and building on greenfield areas; 3. A serious strategy to combat pollution; 4. Visible policing after the horrific rape of a woman dumped outside the library. 5. Better infrastructure to cope with the burden of an increasing population.

* John Ward (Farnham Residents)

John Ward got married in Farnham in 1974 and, after a career overseas in the oil industry, settled here over 20 years ago. He has been active in the community as a school governor, member of the Farnham Society and local councillor since 2007. John has twice served as mayor of Farnham. He has an independent mind, has consistently opposed inappropriate developments and puts people before party, which is why he joined the Farnham Residents. He strongly supports the good things that the town council does such as Farnham in Bloom but feels the council should be more pro-active in pressing for Farnham’s needs. Supported by other Farnham Residents he will demand action on the unacceptably poor air quality, especially in the centre of town and on Wrecclesham Road. A Wrecclesham relief road and an increased police presence in the town are high on his list of priorities.

WEYBOURNE AND BADSHOT LEA

* Joan Anniballi (Lab)

I have lived and worked in Farnham for many years. But now, being retired, I have time to give to the community and so I am standing in these local elections to give voters the democratic opportunity of voting Labour. My employment was in the NHS and the public library service which now, more than ever, need care and investment, not privatisation and cutbacks.

My two grown-up children were educated in Farnham, but now cannot afford to live in this area. We need more affordable housing and I would lobby for this. Bearing in mind we must not overload the infrastructure and must protect the green areas of Weybourne and Badshot Lea.

Farnham’s traffic and pollution problems are ruining the town. We need the will to change this and get a pedestrianisation scheme going. It won’t be easy,but by voting Labour a more positive and pro-active voice can be brought into the council chamber.

* David Attfield (Lib Dem)

A local candidate – I was born in Badshot Lea and have always lived in the ward. I attended Badshot Lea Infant School and senior school, and West Street Boys’ School (now Potters Gate) in between. I worked in the telecommunications industry for 34 years before retirement. I have been one of the elected members at Farnham Town Council for 16 years, and served two terms as to town mayor during 2006-2007 and 2018-2019. I campaign to improve the environment and appearance of our town and villages, to resist the speculative development of our green open spaces and to improve dispersal of surface water flooding and foul water drainage. I coordinate the local speed watch group in Weybourne and Badshot Lea, with the aim of making our local roads safer. I will continue to promote and support our local schools, businesses and charitable organisations.

* Mark Merryweather (Lib Dem)

Mark settled in Waverley with his family 15 years ago to continue a business career that had taken them to live and work around the world. He has been a passionate local community volunteer, charity trustee and school governor.

“There is a sense of complacency hanging over our Conservative-controlled councils which is all the more worrying given the substantial developments they have planned in Weybourne & Badshot Lea. As your councillor I will prioritise competence and accountability, and not letting developers off paying a fair share for road repairs and safety; affordable housing and public transport; less congestion and better parking; and sensible policing of local crime and anti-social behaviour.”

* Nabeel Nasir (Con)

I have been working with local charities for the past 12 years to raise donations and other activities with local communities like the Poppy Appeal and street cleaning. I am a father of three lovely daughters who go to local schools and am a businessman by profession. I also play for a local cricket team and I have been helping people in the constituency. My role in the overview and scrutiny, and planning committees enables me to look into constituents’ problems and help to solve them.

* David Quick (Farnham Residents)

David Quick is your candidate for The Farnham Residents group in your ward.

He has lived and worked very happily in Farnham for 24 years. 

In this time he has grown to love our town and surrounding villages with a passion and happily lives and works with his wife Praveena and their two-year-old son Freddie. He has worked with and supported many projects in the town with pedestrianisation being his keen goal.

David was the chairman of Farnham Pubwatch for 14 years up to 2014, working closely with Surrey Police to keep our town safe and a great place to live, work and socialise in. 

He remains a member of this valuable group and the treasurer to this day.

David’s goal is to bring a police presence back to our town and surrounding villages and to achieve an East meets West ethos with the massive structural changes we are all soon to see.

* Chris Storey (Con)

Former mayor of Waverley, Chris Storey has lived in Farnham for over 30 years and has been a local councillor for the last 12. In his work life Chris had a scientific background and was the director of the Paint Research Association. Chris has a long-term and wide-ranging involvement in the local community and has been both a school governor and a governor of the Royal Surrey Hospital NHS Trust. He is also the local representative on the board which safeguards the special conservation area in the local heathlands.

On Farnham Council Chris will have particular interest in improving the air quality in the town, road safety and in scrutinising proposed developments.

FARNHAM WRECCLESHAM AND ROWLEDGE

* Tim Corry (Lab)

It’s time for change in Waverley. Domination of local government by one party for so long is unhealthy and has led to poor decisions that often aren’t in the interest of local people. We have the opportunity on 2nd May to say no to austerity and to put the people of Waverley back at the heart of what we do.

I’m standing as your local representative to raise your concerns, to provide you with a voice at council meetings. I will serve the community with the dedication and passion required to make a difference.

I’m an airline pilot and previously served for 12 years in the Royal Air Force. I’m married with 2 young children.

* Paula Dunsmore (Con)

A senior building surveyor I have lived in Farnham and Wrecclesham for most of my life. I organise the annual Wrecclesham Village Fete and volunteered for Wrecclesham Sports and Social Club. On election in 2015 I facilitated the formation of Wrecclesham’s Village Voice, and I’m actively involved works to improve safety on Wrecclesham’s roads. I enjoy my involvement in town council events and works, currently I’m arranging a town council noticeboard for Grovebell Estate and additional waste bins around the village. Most rewarding has been my work supporting residents with concerns including temporary road signage, overgrown trees and damaged road barriers needing urgent replacement. Environment is important to me and I’ve arranged local community plantings of 7,000 bulbs. If elected I will continue to work hard for the communities of Wrecclesham and Rowledge and strive to further enhance our environment and improve road safety.

* Brian Edmonds (Farnham Residents)

Brian Edmonds is a chartered mechanical engineer, whose career began as Royal Navy Lieutenant. Then followed a career in the oil and gas industry with various roles within operations, design, audit, major accident investigation and environmental impact assessment management.

Global experience extended from Indonesia to the Peruvian Amazon, regions that required extreme sensitivity to ensure the local population were consulted, and that the environment was protected in full accordance with national law and international law.

After retiring and completing a law degree, his interests include seeking fair access to justice.

Brian has previously lived in Woking and Godalming. He moved to Farnham from Aberdeen in 1992 to work in London. Concern for Farnham’s public health and safety issues began by objecting to the Alton Road waste landfill site in June 2004. His public interest is founded upon a lifetime experience of road safety and waste risk management.

* Lynley Griffiths (Con)

A health and safety consultant advocating safer, cleaner environments and roads. Lynley facilitated provision of Wrecclesham’s new 30mph ‘slow’ signs, low bridge signs and chevrons as well as ‘children’ signage adjacent Rowledge Tennis Club. General secretary of Wrecclesham Village Voice, Rowledge Cricket Club and Farnham Conservatives, Lynley also works on Rowledge’s Recreation Facilities Committee and with Farnham’s Air Quality Working Group. Lynley volunteers for the IWM’s memorials register contributing 39 images of local war memorials, three of these being previously unlisted memorials, including an unlisted memorial at St Peter’s Church, Wrecclesham. Lynley is a trustee of the NAWT, an animal welfare charity operating no-kill rescue centres across southern England. If fortunate enough to be elected she will continue to champion improvements to road safety and the environment, work to reject inappropriate planning applications and seek improvements to parks and open spaces for all local residents.

* Rosamund Lupton (Lib Dem)

Rosamund has been a resident for the past nine years, raising her two sons here. She works from her home in Rowledge as a novelist and enjoys everything the local community and area has to offer her and her family.

As a Liberal Democrat, she is pledged to support local services, protect the environment, improve traffic safety and make living in our community affordable for young people.

FARNHAM UPPER HALE

* Stephen Barr (Con) – has not submitted a statement.

* Owen Barry (Con) – has not submitted a statement.

* Pat Evans (Farnham Residents)

I moved to Farnham with my family in 1984 and became town clerk in millennium year 2000; subsequently, on retirement, I became company secretary at Farnham Castle. Experience has taught me Farnham is a unique place.

With the East Street redevelopment works progressing and the establishment of the three-council Masterplan group for town-centre enhancement, I believe the opportunity exists for further enhancement and revitalisation to enable Farnham to become a more vibrant town, for its own residents, its retail sector and for visitors; and I wish to be part of achieving that objective. The recent Timpson Report identified £675 million of government money for the future of High Streets.

I will aim to obtain an allocation for Farnham’s town centre.

I have a wealth of experience in local government and have always been fiercely independent of party politics and committed to local community work; this will continue to be my priority for the Upper Hale ward and its residents.

* John ‘Scotty’ Fraser (Farnham Residents)

I am offering myself as a Farnham Residents candidate for the Upper Hale ward of the Farnham Town Council. 

Retired now from a professional lifetime as structural and highway engineer with an international multi-professional consultancy, I maintain an abiding interest in building design, conservation and environmental matters which I have applied over the past four years in both Farnham town and Waverley borough councils, as one of your elected councillors for Upper Hale though I actually live in Heath End and have done so for over 40 years.

The “Scotty” appellation derives from 35 years in the scouting movement as my “scouting service name”, Though now with diminishing energy for active participation, I am proud of my 30 years as an assistant leader of the Hale Scout Troop. 

It is my belief the scouting ethos fits easily with the aims of Farnham Residents in evoking  non-partisan political service to the community without the encumbrance of a strict party structure with manifesto promises rarely fulfilled. 

We endeavour to work with everyone of good will in our community, just so long as good will and co-operation are reciprocated. We believe that adherence to party dogma has little relevance to local government at any level, be it parish/ town, borough or county.

* Howard Kaye (Lab)

My name is Howard Kaye, I live in Upper Hale and I will be standing on behalf of the Labour Party in the Farnham Town Council election.

I believe the current one-party dominance of the town council is not healthy for local democracy. All parties benefit from constructive challenge and debate, I want to make a difference and offer a real alternative to what has become the norm. 

I am keen to work with all parties to ensure progressive, positive politics which benefit the many not the few.

This is your opportunity to make a real difference by voting for me on Thursday, May 2. It will be 2023 before you will get another chance to enable change.