Stroud District Council election - Rodborough

Each party candidate will give voters information about who they are, what their pledges are and why you should vote for them.

These profiles will be posted alphabetically by ward over the next week.

Today we feature Kingswood, Minchinhampton, Nailsworth, Painswick and Upton, Randwick, Whiteshill and Ruscombe and Rodborough.

Look back at previous articles throughout the week for wards A-H.

Stay posted to see your candidates go head to head.

Rodborough - There are seven candidates standing in this ward. Number of seats – two.

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• Christine Headley – Liberal Democrats

Christine Headley has lived in Rodborough since 1998, initially on Bath Road before moving to Butterrow.

Both her daughters attended Gastrells School in Kingscourt, where she is now chair of governors, having been a governor since 2009.

She served on Stroud District Council 2007-2011 and was a parish councillor 2006-2014.

Christine would like to see development in Rodborough suitable for the needs of local people, and making use of low-carbon and other sustainable technologies.

There are few sites in this area, but plenty of need.

Christine is particularly supportive of the canal development.

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• Phil Bloomberg - Green

Phil has lived in Rodborough for over 10 years, joined the Parish Council in 2007, and became the chair in 2010. As a district councillor I would promote energy saving initiatives and tackle dangerous traffic, whilst improving parking and decreasing speeds.

I would improve gritting and protect valuable greenfields whilst at the same time influence the authorities to make greater use of ugly, derelict brownfield sites.

In standing for the Green Party I believe I am giving you a real opportunity to vote for a viable future for all of us, environmentally, socially and economically.

I am currently the Chair of Rodborough Parish Council. I work as a Health, Safety and Environmental advisor for a company in the area and know that sustainable business practices can also mean improved market position.

I joined the Greens when I realised that we are exhausting our planet’s ability to sustain us. I was only too delighted to find out that the Stroud District Green Party was so strong in the community.

I am passionate about community safety and resilience and it has been an honour and privilege to be able to chair the Parish Council in a period which saw us form our Road Safety Working Group and our Grit Warden Systems.

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• Kiera Jones – Green Party

Rodborough resident Kiera moved to Stroud two years ago and now cannot imagine living anywhere else.

She works as a software engineer for a major local company, and has been co-chair of the Stroud District Green Party for over a year. She says: I am standing for election as I believe a better society is possible, one that looks after those most in need and sustains the environment for future generations.

The combination of outstanding countryside and thriving industry in the Stroud District shows that we do not need to sacrifice our environment for the sake of the economy.

I have seen the great work of existing Green councillors, and feel inspired to join them.

I have a background in scientific research, and as such I am keen that policies should wherever possible be based on sound evidence and should benefit the community as a whole."

As a member of an NHS expert group on chronic pain, I worked with clinicians and managers to ensure that the needs of patients were always put at the forefront of policy making.

My priorities include ensuring that a viable public transport service is maintained in Rodborough, making sure affordable housing is available to all who need it and fighting to protect our local environment.

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• Karen McKeown - Labour

Karen McKeown has lived in Rodborough for more than thirty years.

As a former chair of the parish council and editor of the Commoner newsletter, she knows the importance of listening to residents and finding solutions to local problems.

She is committed to making sure that the needs of Rodborough are heard at Ebley Mill.

Karen’s career has been in the probation service and local government where she worked with vulnerable families and young people.

Away from work, Karen is the chair of the local Amnesty International group and enjoys walking her dogs on the Common and keeping chickens.

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• Nigel Prenter - Labour

Nigel Prenter grew up on nuclear RAF bases, studied at the London School of Economics for five years, lived in Hawaii, and for the last twenty-five years has written songs, recorded and performed with the Stroud-based band The Hawds.

He has taught Government and Politics at Stroud High School for even longer and has taken students all over Asia and Africa as well as to Washington DC and the UK, Scottish and European Parliaments.

Nigel is Head of Year 13, is responsible for all university applications, and has been a Labour Councillor on SDC for the last five years.

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• Libby Bird – Conservative

As a Conservative I believe resources should be focussed on the things that matter to the people who live here.

I am pleased that the Labour administration have continued with the great projects started by the Conservatives, the canal restoration, the replacement council houses with concrete rot at no cost to the tax payer. To have a council with innovative ideas vote Conservative.

Now a Rodborough resident I would find it a great privilege to represent Rodborough at SDC.

I project managed this with the help of local builders and tradesmen. Living in Rodborough has great advantages, easy access to town and the Commons with its abundant wildlife. Rodborough has the enduring problem of heavy traffic on its main roads and my concern is the profusion of potholes this seriously needs addressing.

I was previously District councillor for Minchinhampton, held cabinet positions and represented the Council on several organisations.

This has given me the knowledge of how to navigate local government within SDC and beyond to GCC and how to work with others to get things done.

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• Sarah Shaw – Conservative

My name is Sarah Shaw and I am one of your Conservative candidates for Rodborough. I have lived and worked in the Stroud area for the past 12 years, nine of them working for the community bus service.

I have a common sense approach to most things and will represent the people of Rodborough with honesty and hard work, ensuring that money is directed where it is needed most and that tax payers get good value for money.

I believe in putting more into society than taking out and have always done my bit to benefit other people, especially the vulnerable.

I will see that new housing is only planned where it is most suitable and in accord with the local plan.

Voters have two votes in Rodborough this year use them to both for two Conservatives myself and Libby Bird.