WAVERLEY voters will go to the polls this Thursday (May 2) to elect 57 new councillors across all 29 borough council 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 in alphabetical order, by ward then candidate, below.

Elections for Waverley’s town and parish councils will also happen on this day, with the town and parish 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.

FARNHAM SHORTHEATH AND BOUNDSTONE

* 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My two priorities in 2019 are, first, to preserve all those services currently being withdrawn from children as a result of conservative cuts.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.

* 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 5 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.

* Tom Van Den Brokek (Con)

Tom has been a Waverley resident for 19 years both living and working within the borough. Tom has worked as a UK film producer for over a decade with experience producing period and award-winning drama. Tom’s particular interests for Shortheath & Boundstone are- strengthening and building on infrastructure projects such as schools, doctors’ surgeries, road & pavement surfacing; protecting Green Belt & Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty from new developments; providing individual support and assistance to ward constituents, and escalating issues where appropriate on their behalf. Please feel free to get in touch directly at any time, Tom would be happy to listen to your concerns and assist in any way he can.

* Adrian Waller (Con)

Adrian, a resident for more than twenty years. Previously Chairman of Waverley Borough Council’s ‘Tenants Panel’ and ‘Designated Complaints Panel’, delivering tenants views at the ‘Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee’. A-level, Chartered Institute of Housing. Community is my passion and providing a voice for residents unable to navigate the bureaucracy of local government. Keen to improve our local environment with initiatives that include road safety measures, waste and litter management and environmental enhancement projects.

* 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 feels that the Godalming-based Council is out of touch with Farnham’s needs and strongly objects to Godalming-based people standing for Farnham Wards. 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.1

FARNHAM WRECCLESHAM AND ROWLEDGE

* Peter Clark (Farnham Residents)

Peter has lived in South Farnham for 37 years and was a lifelong Conservatives supporter before becoming disillusioned with the party-political system that operates from within Waverley.

He recognises Farnham’s infrastructure is being put under huge pressure so he believes in controlled development via Farnham’s Local Neighbourhood Plan.

Peter has held directorships with EU & UK based companies and in recent years worked for a local family business.

Since retiring, Peter has the time to pursue his great loves of gardening and travel (and Mrs Clark!)

He also wishes to promote the interests of Farnham and its residents at a time when the Farnham area is experiencing its biggest ever surge in housing development with the pressures that creates within the town.

Peter believes it is now time to halt the decline in the town’s condition by ensuring that it gets the investment it deserves instead of funds derived in Farnham being diverted elsewhere.

He is proud of Farnham and is committed to working tirelessly to get the vital investment the town needs.

* 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.

* 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 that 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.

“A councillor’s primary role is to represent their ward and the people who live in it. Councillors provide a bridge between the community and the council.”

Brian commits to the challenging role that well briefed Waverley Borough Councillors must ensure institutional and democratic defences are secured for Farnham Town’s lawful, sustainable development in the public interest.

* 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 thirty nine 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 last nine years, raising her two sons here. She works from her home in Rowledge as a novelist and enjoys everything that 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.

* Wyatt Ramsdale (Con)

Wyatt is Wrecclesham’s and Rowledge’s County and Borough Councillor. He and his extended family have lived in Wrecclesham then Rowledge for over 24 years. A Chartered Accountant and Management Consultant, Wyatt worked in Financial Management, Change Management and Property, and was previously a reserve forces officer in the Parachute Regiment.

Wyatt’s Council work includes responsibilities in Environment, Waste and Finance and the support of many local clubs and organisations e.g. Farnham Sports Council, Farnham Maltings, Wrecclesham Recreation Ground, Rowledge Cricket Club and BOOM Credit Union. He is active with Wrecclesham Village Voice and was formerly a Governor at Rowledge School. You can even throw sponges at him at Rowledge Village Fayre!

If elected Wyatt will continue to seek: protection of our environment from inappropriate planning applications; constraints on speeding traffic; increased spending on leisure and older people’s services; reduced Council overheads; and to protect the green spaces between Farnham’s villages.

FARNHAM WEYBOURNE AND BADSHOT LEA

* Joan Anniballi (Lab)

My name is Joan Anniballi and I have lived and worked in Farnham for many years. My employment was in the NHS and the Public Library Service which now more than ever need care and investment,not privatisation and cut-backs. Now, being retired I have time to give to the community. I am standing here to give people the chance of voting Labour to get a new voice in Waverley.The Borough Council is overloaded with Tories,voting along party lines. The Tory dominated Borough Council gets no opposition, this cannot be fair and leads to unjust decisions.

Waverley is following national Conservative decisions which impact severely on those who can least afford it. Health, Safety, Education, Policing and Support Services are suffering. Every year we pay more Council Tax, but get less and less.Over-priced property and expensive private rentals are drowning the local area.This great shortage of affordable housing is forcing children to live with parents or move away. New ideas and thought are needed. VOTE FOR CHANGE.

* Bob Blower (Farnham Residents) -

Robert Blower has lived at Runfold House, Badshot Lea for over forty six years, he attended All Hallows School in Weybourne. He is a Chartered Architect and has worked in the borough for over thirty years, receiving recognition with a number of local and national awards. He is keenly aware of the requirements necessary to achieve good architecture and he hopes to assist the community as our towns, villages and infrastructures face the challenges of increasing population and changing technologies.

* Daniel Hunt (Lib Dem)

Dan moved to Weybourne and Badshot Lea to raise his young family 5 years ago and with one daughter in Tootsies and another at William Cobbett is passionate about reducing congestion, and improving road safety and air quality in the ward for all the residents.

“With a young family in local nurseries and schools, I experience daily the serious issues of congestion and speeding in the ward and will work tirelessly to ensure that speeding and congestion in the area is tackled and crossings are added where needed.

I also completely understand the problems with affordable housing in the area which affects many residents and especially the young. The issues of housing, local infrastructure and road safety are inter-related and I will work hard to hold Waverley Borough council to account and ensure the area gets the improvements it needs.”

* 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 primary 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 last 12 years to raise donations and other activities with local communities like the Poppy Appeal and street cleaning. I am a father of 3 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 twenty four 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 fourteen 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 Waverley Council Chris is a member of the executive with responsibility for the local plan, neighbourhood plans and customer service. He has a particular interest in improving air quality and in increasing the provision of local authority and other affordable housing.

FARNHAM UPPER HALE

* Stephen Barr (Con) – Did not submit a statement.

* Owen Barry (Con) – Did not submit a statement.

* 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 Waverley Borough Council election.

I believe the current one-party dominance of the Borough 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 2nd May, it will be 2023 before you will get another chance to enable change.

* Penny Marriott (Farnham Residents)

I am married to Peter. I was a teacher in many of the local schools, including Heath End School and Farnham Sixth Form College, before I returned to college myself in order to study Physics later in life. A former Farnham Town Mayor and Waverley Borough Councillor, I have always been an enthusiastic volunteer in many different aspects of Farnham life. I am at present a trustee and Chair of the Farnham Victoria and chair both the North West Farnham Residents Association and Farnham-Andernach Friendship Group.

We moved to Farnham 44 years ago and the change in the Town has been huge during that time. Some of the biggest changes have been in the huge increase in Town centre traffic and the deterioration in the state of the Town Infra Structure and facilities. When we moved here there was a cinema and a theatre, and it didn’t take half an hour to go from one side of the Town to the other. I am standing as a Farnham Resident because I feel that we can work together, in the interests of Farnham so that much needed change can be achieved.

* Peter Marriott (Farnham Residents)

I am married to Penny with 4 children who were born and brought up in Farnham. I worked at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough and then I later set up and ran my own scientific consultancy company until just recently and am now semi-retired, working from home. I was previously a Town Councillor and school governor and I am at present a trustee of ‘40 Degreez’, the Farnham Youth Centre project, and am involved in several local charities and Associations.

I have lived in Farnham since 1975 and seen the deterioration in the Town since then, particularly regarding the overdevelopment of what was a small market town. This increase in housing without regard to the road infrastructure inevitably leads to increased traffic and town centre pollution not to mention the state of the roads themselves. The time has come for change and feel Farnham Residents Group are in the best position to promote the best interests of the town.

FRENSHAM DOCKENFIELD AND TILFORD

* Brian Adams (Con)

Brian has been working tirelessly over the last four years to improve the image and facilities locally. He has been tackling the growing environmental concerns. Brian is pleased that a new protocol to permit the speedy removal of travellers, ensuring our common land remains open for recreation. If re-elected, Brian will continue to work with local groups and residents to improve opportunities and services.

* Natasha Fletcher (Lab)

I am a language teacher and am raising three children who all attend local state schools. As a parent I’ve been shocked at the disastrous cuts to services by the Conservatives, witnessing their effects first-hand and seeing the negative impact on our community.

I feel this is a fight for what is right – the stripping back of essential services cannot go on. Witnessing the unacceptable become acceptable over the last nine years of Conservative Administration at all levels, it’s time to say enough is enough. 

 Waverley Borough Council is entirely dominated by the one party at every level- from Government, to MP and local councils. It’s not good for anyone and leads to complacency. Even many people who voted Conservative feel it’s not right. 

As your councillor I will offer a genuine alternative: transparency, a demand for accountability, focus on genuinely affordable housing and the protection of our unique environment. If you’d like to send a message and if you want change, please support me as your representative.

* Julia Potts (Con)

Educated in Sussex, Julia moved to the local area having lived in London in the 1980’s. She worked for Proctor & Gamble and Coty and is self employed, running a Sales and Training Consultancy business.

First elected in 2011 as a councillor, Julia is currently Leader of Waverley Borough Council, and a board member of the Farnham Maltings and the Sandy Hill Community Bungalow. A Trustee of Hale Cottage Trust, Governor at Hale School & Sure Start Centre.

Whilst growing up Julia spent many of her school holidays in and around the ward enjoying outdoor pursuits ,and is therefore passionate about protecting its rich natural environment. She is committed to working with local residents, ensuring future improvements within the community and better local facilities. She is keen to see improved joint working and communication the Town & Parishes for the wider benefit of all local resident.

* Susan Ryland (Green)

Susan Ryland is the Green Party Candidate for Frensham, Dockenfield and Tilford. She has lived in the area all her adult life having moved here as a student. She is a University lecturer specialising in Creativity, Innovation and Invention exploring environmentally sustainable design solutions. She is a strong advocate for collaborative working and community-led initiatives.

For the past Two years Susan has been working behind the scenes with other local political parties (Liberal Democrats, Labour, Independents and local residents’ groups) to create a new Common Programme–a manifesto for Waverley’s future which places environmental protection and social well-being at its heart.

“We need to think in fresh ways to reduce carbon emissions by fifty percent within a decade while ensuring our local communities flourish,” says Susan. “In this ward the borough election is particularly important because it is the first one in twelve years. Please make sure you vote.”