In the run up to the Stroud District Council elections on May 5, the SNJ will be profiling each of the candidates standing in all 27 wards.

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 Uplands, Valley, The Stanleys, Thrupp and Wotton-Under-Edge.

Uplands - There are four candidates standing in this ward. Number of seats – one.

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  • Peter Richardson – Green Party

Peter has an eight-year old daughter, and works self-employed in IT and gardening. Before moving to Stroud, he served as a Town Councillor in Buckinghamshire.

As an active Green Party member for 14 years, I have been involved in campaigns against war, poverty, nuclear power, incinerators, destruction of local countryside, speeding traffic and other things that the world would be better off without.

But it’s not enough just to oppose things - we also need to work to make the world and our local community a better place, for happier, healthier people.

In my own life, I enjoy growing my own organic fruit and veg, and helping others to do the same. I walk and cycle whenever I can, and further reduce my carbon footprint by repairing and reusing household items and improving the insulation in my home.

I started a permaculture group in Stroud as a support network for people interested in developing a more sustainable, happier and interconnected local community.

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  • Roger Sanders – Independent

I firmly believe that I can best represent my ward as an Independent councillor representing and looking after the people from all walks of life and all political views.

My feeling is that with all the disarray in political parties people are sick and tired of the continual bickering and backbiting that has no room in local issues.

By representing people rather than politics I hope to get the electorate more interested in local issues and involved in community life in Uplands.

I believe that local issues such as planning - large and small, maintaining services, refuse and recycling, grit bins, dog fouling, road safety, plus maintaining the maximum pressure on County Councillors and the County Council about the disgraceful and deplorable state of our roads, are more important than playing politics.

If elected I will endeavour to stop the demolition of the old scout headquarters in Folly lane and get it back into community ownership and use.

I will continue fighting to have a crossing and traffic calming at the entrance to the playing fields on Folly Lane.

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  • Chas Townley - Labour

Chas was born in Stroud and has lived here for most of his life. He's been the District Councillor for Uplands for the last year, dealing with problems and issues brought to him by local residents.

He has worked within housing associations and councils, mainly on housing and support for vulnerable people.

He believes that privatisation is a political not an economic choice.

He is keen to secure directly provided local services, whilst recognising the role of the voluntary and community sector.

Chas is a supporter of co-operative organisations and has recently joined the board of Stroud’s Credit Union.

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  • Jeremy Strickland - Conservative

Jeremy was brought up in Stroud from an early age. He attended Callowell Primary school and Marling School.

Upon his marriage he lived in Uplands, after a few years he moved to Cranham, where he currently resides.

He is very much a family orientated man and is father to three school age children.

He runs his own business as a contract gardener and fencer.

He enjoys playing cricket and last year he successfully completed the London Marathon in aid of a local charity.