A COUNCILLOR of 10 years says he will be standing again – as soon as he recovers from a serious accident which saw him break his hip and pelvis.
Mick Haines didn’t stand to retain his Marston ward seat following the accident six months ago, with the Green Party’s Al Morris swooping in.
However, 81-year-old Mr Haines – who was first elected in May 2012 – told this newspaper he intends to stand again as a councillor once he’s recovered from his injuries.
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“Back in November, I had a bad accident and fell backwards down the stairs – I broke my pelvis, hip, wrist, shoulder and elbow,” he said.
“I’m still recovering from all that now, and I’ve been relying on my family to help me out.
“It would’ve been very difficult to go out knocking on doors, talking to voters.”
Mr Haines, who was a scaffolder between 1962 and 2010, added: “People have already asked if I’ll be standing again – a lot of my voters didn’t turn out for the recent election.
“I won’t be giving up. In the future, I’ll be going as a councillor again because people want me to.
“They’ve told me I’ll need to go again and that I’ve got a good backing – there’s gratitude for the work I’ve done for Marston over the years.”
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Mr Haines reflected on how he first got involved in local politics, saying: “In 2003, I was told they were going to take away the play area at Croft Road recreation ground – I said it wasn’t fair to the kids so I got a petition going, and that’s what started me off.
“I got elected for the first time in 2012, it was really fantastic as I’d been fighting previous times and knew I could do a lot more for the people.
“What I’m really proud of is getting the play area sorted with a new zipwire, and a plaque in memory of the people of Marston who died in the Second World War.
“Most of all, I’m very proud of saving the Post Office twice.”
One of Mr Haines’ ongoing campaigns is to get a multi-storey car park at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
He said: “That’s what I’m still fighting for now, I’ve had so many people say they go round for hours trying to find a place up there.”
Having already published three books, including a memoir of his life titled Up and Down the Greasy Pole, Mr Haines is now set to write a fourth book – and like the others, all proceeds will go to Cancer Research UK.
“I’m going to be writing another book on my time as a councillor, I’m getting stuff in my head ready to do it,” he said.
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