Independent candidates vying to shake up Oxford City Council elections

They spoke to LUKE SPROULE about their policies and aims for the election.

CHARLIE HAYNES, ABOVE FRONT, INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR MARSTON

I have lived in Old Marston all of my life. I am married with two grown-up children and two grandchildren. I attended local schools and worked in the retail trade for 32 years before taking early retirement in 2001. I have been a parish councillor for 30 years and chairman for the last 16 years. In the past, I have been involved in helping run many of the local organisations. I am standing as an independent as I believe you can have more effect if you are not controlled by a political party.

MICK HAINES, ABOVE, INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR MARSTON

I HAVE lived in Marston for 43 years. I love it here, it’s a great place to live with a wonderful community spirit. For the past 12 years I’ve worked hard to make it an even better place and put it on the map. I soon realised that I would be more effective as a councillor, so I stood in every city and county election from 2005 until I finally got over the line in 2012.

I became Oxford’s first independent councillor for many years. It’s harder to work as an independent (especially at election times) but I feel I can serve Marston better this way. At council meetings I’ve voted on an issue-by-issue basis rather than have to toe the party line. Some of my campaigns have been:

• Getting lights for Croft Road rec after a seven-year battle.
• Fighting to lessen the problems of traffic, congestion and parking.
• Retaining the post office in the Costcutter store.
• Trying to get a sewage pumping station at nearby Barton Park.

Marston has terrible sewage and flooding problems. But for all this I’m probably still best known for trying to save Headington shops subway. I’ve been proved right on that. Filling in the subway has added to the congestion there.

I’m nicknamed “Petition King Mick” and have taken several of my petitions to 10 Downing Street. Many people urged me to go for the Marston and Northway county council seat in 2013. I believe I could have won but I am totally opposed to the idea of dual councillors. I am very proud and content to represent Marston as a city councillor. I thank people for electing me and supporting me and ask that they give me another four years in this role. I am still up for the fight.

JUDITH HARLEY, ABOVE, INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR COWLEY MARSH

I’m standing as an independent candidate for Cowley Marsh because I want residents to know that I am working for their benefit, and putting their interests before party political interests. Councillors’ loyalty should be to their electorate first and foremost. At present Oxford City Council is dominated by a single party, which leads to unhealthy lack of challenge and democracy.

I live in Cowley Marsh, and the concerns of local residents are my concerns. We need better representation, better consultation, and better accountability – for example, over the unsatisfactory closure of Temple Cowley Pools and Fitness Centre (TCP), against the wishes of thousands of users. As a member of the Save TCP campaign I will continue to challenge the city council over this.

As planning representative for my local residents’ association I have spearheaded many campaigns, including successfully opposing inappropriate development on the William Morris sports field and in Cowley Marsh Park.

Other local matters which need addressing include ensuring the viability of Temple Cowley Library, monitoring traffic and parking problems – especially around local schools – and a lack of genuinely affordable housing. The latter must not be achieved at any cost, however, as we need to balance housing with adequate public space and amenities. I will look for ways to re-open the William Morris sports field for public use, whilst preserving its protected open space, and I will continue to oppose expansion of the city council depot into Cowley Marsh Park.

As an independent candidate, free from party politics, I’m best placed to genuinely champion the needs of local residents and put their interests first. Elect me on May 5 and you will be gaining a strong advocate who will challenge, and hold to account Oxford City Council.

CHAKA ARTWELL, ABOVE, INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR BARTON AND SANDHILLS

There is insufficient community space on Sandhills and Barton to celebrate and party. Christenings, anniversaries, engagement parties, children’s parties, wedding receptions, 18th birthday parties, dance and ballet troupes cannot be held in Barton because so much community space has been lost and the Barton Community Association (BCA) administered neighbourhood centre does not welcome youth celebrations.

Barton has lost The Royal British Legion; St Mary’s Community Hall is closed and urgently in need of refurbishment; the sports pavilion is due to close in May for 18 months to facilitate the development of Barton Park housing estate. There is insufficient place for Barton’s 800 young people to party.

Sandhills and Barton needs more community space, so the people of the constituency can dance and celebrate life’s milestones.

I am calling for:

• Full consultation with Sandhills and Barton residents over the spending of this £3.7m Barton regeneration fund;
• For some of this money to be used to modernise and restore St Mary’s Community Hall, and the Royal British Legion site for community use.
• Better representation of residents on the Barton Community Association (BCA), and more transparency, and accountability of the BCA to Barton people.

If elected I will champion these and many other concerns for the people of Sandhills and Barton. The current councillors, without any meaningful consultation with the constituency, decided to spend Barton’s £3.7m regeneration grant on the neighbourhood centre and Underhill Circus shops.

This is ignores the needs of the youth. As an independent candidate I am free from any party politics, I am best placed to genuinely champion the needs of local residents.

I live in Barton, and the concerns of Sandhill and Barton residents are also my concerns.