Walsall Council wards RSS feed for the Walsall Council wards tag
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News
Adam Lumley The YamYam 20 Oct 10
Voters in the Rushall-Shelfield ward go to the polls on Thursday 11 November in a Walsall Council by election resulting from the sad death of Albert Griffiths. The popular councillor died aged 73 following a short illness last August.
The Rushall-Shelfield seat was scheduled to be contested next May and it is thought that a “gentleman’s agreement” existed between the three main parties to leave the seat vacant until then. However, the Official Monster Raving Loony Party exercised its right to trigger the by election by responding to the “Notice of Casual Vacancy” which requires two registered voters in the borough to request an election.
Councillor Griffiths retained the ward in 2007 with a majority of 579 over second placed Labour. The BNP finished third and the LibDems came fourth ahead of Democratic Labour. In the elections last May, Councillor Rachel Walker (now Andrew) kept the seat for the Conservatives with a 900 vote majority. The LibDems came third with a creditable 956 votes.
The November by election sees the return of the BNP, the inclusion of a Monster Raving Loony candidate, UKIP and veteran Labour former mayor Richard Worrall. But the main talking point will be the decision by the Liberal Democrats not to field a candidate.
It is not clear if Walsall Liberal Democrats have been influenced by the partnership between the national leadership and the Conservatives in government but the 956 people who voted LibDem in the ward in May could turn to any of the others parties and overturn a healthy Conservative majority.
Leader of the Walsall LibDem group, Councillor Ian Shires stated that the decision not to contest the ward was taken by the constituency Aldridge Brownhills Association and gave his assurance that there is no “pact” between LibDems and Conservatives in Walsall.
Richard Worrall, the Labour candidate, told TheYamYam that “the glaring absence of one of the parties of government” was an indication of the reluctance of “LibDem hopefuls hurrying to come forward and face electors on the door-step at this particular time”.
The YamYam invited Chairman of the Liberal Democrat Aldridge and Brownhills Association, Bob Pearce, to issue a statement but none has yet been forthcoming.
The candidates standing in Rushall-Shelfield are:
Mark William Beech – The Official Monster Raving Loony Party
Tim Melville – UKIP
Lorna Jean Rattigan – The Conservative Party
Bill Vaughan – The British National Party
Richard Vernon Worrall – The Labour Party
News
Advertiser 12 Aug 10
Tributes are being paid to a Walsall councillor described as a “true gentleman” who died on Monday. Rushall Shelfield councillor Albert Griffiths died in hospital after a short illness aged 73.
It is understood that Mr Griffiths, who was recuperating from a triple heart bypass, had a fall last week and wasn’t strong enough to recover….
News
Bloxidge Tallygraph 16 Jul 10
The Conservative Party have been soundly beaten, and the Liberal Democrats decimated, in Thursday’s by-election for the Walsall Council ward of Bloxwich West which was triggered by the untimely death of respected long-standing Tory Councillor and former mayor Melvin Pitt on the eve of the General Election earlier this year.
Late results, as yet unofficially declared, appear to reveal that Fred Westley, the Labour candidate, has overturned the Tory majority with his own new majority of 342, based on 1142 votes cast for him. The Conservative candidate polled just 800 votes with the other parties barely getting a look in as follows: UKIP 91, Lib Dem 71 and Green 28…
Comment
The Plastic Hippo 15 Jul 10
“History”, said Winston Churchill, “is written by the victors.” The Conservative, then Liberal, then Independent, then Conservative again career politician and titanic war leader also claimed that history would be kind to him because he intended to write it. Sadly, election pamphleteers in Bloxwich West do not share the vision and cunning of the great man.
The good people of Bloxwich go to the polls today to elect a councillor to represent them and will be bemused to find that their Conservative candidate, instead of writing history, is obliterating it with a bloody great big felt tipped pen. An “In Touch” leaflet dropped through the letterboxes of the sleepy hamlet with the election date of July 15 superimposed over the election date of May 6. This commitment to recycling is to be applauded and the blacking out of “£200million” which preceded the words “Investment in Schools” is clearly a responsible editorial decision given that the true figure was £100million and that the Building Schools for the Future funding has been cut anyway…
Comment
Tom Watson MP 14 Jul 10
There’s a by-election in Walsall on Thursday 15th (today). The Conservative candidate has either reproduced a leaflet from May, or misprinted the leaflet and bodged two important amendments. If you look at the black blotches on the page you will see two things.
1. The date of the election was originally printed as Thursday 6th May. An amendment added in black ink to put the new date.
2. This is the bit that simply takes the biscuit. In the section headed “Together building a better town” you see the line “investment in schools”. Above, clearly visible for all to see through the black ink are the words “200 million”…
News
Adam Lumley TheYamYam 14 Jul 10
Following the sad and untimely death of Councillor Melvin Pitt on the eve of the general and local elections in May, voters in Bloxwich West will appoint his successor in a by-election on Thursday 15th July.
In the 2008 local elections, former Mayor Melvin Pitt retained the council seat for the Conservatives with a comfortable majority of 971. However, the 2010 elections saw fellow Conservative Louise Harrison elected with a majority of 321. The Bloxwich West by election will be the first indication since the May ballots of how voters have reacted to the cuts introduced by the Tory controlled cabinet.
The decision to close the Bryntisilio Outdoor Education Centre and the closure of Willenhall Leisure Centre as well as the cancellation of the £100million Building Schools for the Future programme are likely to have an influence on the result. Disenchanted Conservative and Libdem supporters may turn to Labour, the Green Party or UKIP in a protest against the policies of both the Conservative council and the coalition government. A victory for the Conservatives will be seen as a vindication of these policies and a green light for further cuts.
The list of candidates standing in Bloxwich West is:
Christine Cockayne – Liberal Democrats
Zoe Henderson – The Green Party
Theresa Smith – The Conservative Party
Paul Valdmanis – UKIP
Fred Westley – The Labour Party
Elections
TheYamYam 7 May 10
• Aldridge Central & South
• Aldridge North & Walsall Wood
• Bentley & Darlaston North
• Birchills Leamore
• Blakenall
• Bloxwich East
• Bloxwich West
• Brownhills
• Darlaston South
• Paddock
• Palfrey
• Pelsall
• Pheasey Park Farm
• Pleck
• Rushall Shelfield
• Short Heath
• St. Matthews
• Streetly
• Willenhall North
• Willenhall South
Results 2010
Candidate Party Votes Balgobin, Shirley Gwendoline Liberal Democrats 1,056 Gebrakedan, Leandra Green Party 97 Hughes, Edmund Francis Conservative 4,622 Elected King, Steven Labour Party 1,366
Results 2008
Candidate Party Votes Balgobin, Shirley Gwendoline Liberal Democrats 216 Douglas-Maul, Brian Alastair Conservative 2,575 Elected King, Steven Labour 442 Sheath, Dorothy Margaret UK Independence 317 Registered Voters: 10797 Turnout: 33.01%
Results 2007
Candidate Party Votes King, Steven Labour 686 Clarke, Gary Conservative 2,780 Elected Sheath, Dorothy Margaret UK Independence 461 Registered Voters: 10474 Turnout: % 37.66
Results 2006
Candidate Party Votes Charlton, Thomas Charles Labour 775 Hughes, Edmund Francis Conservative 3,185 Elected Registered Voters: 10,347 Ballot Papers Issued: 4,019 Turnout: 38.84% (Source Walsall Council)
Build-up
Streetly ward boundary map pdf
Summary
Eddie Hughes defends a massive 2,410 Conservatives majority from 2006 when only one other candidate stood against him. The turn out was 38.84% and the sitting councillors are Deputy Mayor Gary Clarke and Brian Douglas-Maul for the Conservatives.
Sitting councillors in this ward
Gary Clarke Conservative Party
Elected 7 May 98
Member details: Council attendance 100%, Deputy Mayor, Licensing and Safety Committee (20%), Taxi Licensing Sub-Committee A (44.44%), Social Care and Inclusion (20%)
Website West Midlands Conservatives
Brian Douglas-Maul Conservative Party
Elected 13 Nov 80
Member details: Council attendance 88.89%, Chair of Employment Appeals A (100%), Environment (100%), Regeneration (75%), Social Care and Inclusion (66.67%), Corporate (100%)
Website West Midlands Conservatives
Candidate seeking re-election
Eddie Hughes Conservative Party
Elected 5 May 99
Member details: Council attendance 100%, Chair Childrens and Young people (100%)
Website West Midlands Conservatives
Candidates seeking election
Shirley Balgobin Liberal Democrat
Website Walsall Liberal Democrats
Leandra Gebrakedan Green Party
Website Wolverhampton & Walsall Green Party
Steven King Labour Party
Website Labour Party (UK)
Paul Valdmanis UK Independence Party
Website UKIP Walsall and Wolverhampton Association
Analysis
The safest ward in the borough is unlikely to be lost by the Conservatives.
Elections
TheYamYam 7 May 10
• Aldridge Central & South
• Aldridge North & Walsall Wood
• Bentley & Darlaston North
• Birchills Leamore
• Blakenall
• Bloxwich East
• Bloxwich West
• Brownhills
• Darlaston South
• Paddock
• Palfrey
• Pelsall
• Pheasey Park Farm
• Pleck
• Rushall Shelfield
• Short Heath
• St. Matthews
• Streetly
• Willenhall North
• Willenhall South
Results 2010
Candidate Party Votes Barker, Daniel James Liberal Democrats 1,310 Coughlan, Diane Labour 2,583 Elected Peart, Stephanie Karen Democratic Labour 157 Samra, Suky Conservative 1,678
Results 2008
Candidate Party Votes Coughlan, Sean Patrick Labour 960 Elected Fazal, Nadia Liberal Democrats 439 Peart, Stephanie Karen Democratic Labour 129 Sohal, Sandeep Singh Conservative 696 Registered Voters: 10,809 Turnout: 20.73%
Results 2007
Candidate Party Votes Fazal, Nadia Liberal Democrats 755 Peart, Stephanie Karen Democratic Labour 106 Pitt, Jason Lee George Conservative 575 Creaney, Carl Usher Labour 1,243 Elected
Registered Voters: 10,714 Turnout: 25.20%
Results 2006
Candidate Party Votes Hughes, Peter Frank Liberal Democrat 649 Peart, Stephanie Karen Democratic Labour 184 Pitt, Jason Lee George Conservative 764 Underhill, Angela Labour 1,103 Elected Registered Voters: 10,276 Ballot Papers Issued: 2,727 Turnout: 26.54% (Source Walsall Council)
Build-up
Willenhall South ward boundary map pdf
Summary
Labour councillor Angela Underhill steps down after winning Willenhall South in 2006 with a majority of just 339 when the turn out was only 26.54%. Carl Creaney and Sean Coughlan are the Labour councillors for Willenhall South.
Sitting councillors in this ward
Sean Coughlan Labour Party
Elected 4 May 95
Member details: Council attendance 88.89%, Vice Chair of Regeneration, Corporate Website Labour Party (UK)
Carl Creaney Labour Party
Elected 21 Jul 05
Member details: Council attendance 100%, Community Services, Health
Website Labour Party (UK)
Councillor stepping down – not seeking re-election
Angela Underhill Labour Party
Elected 2 May 96
Member details: Council attendance 66.67%, Development Control Committee, Licensing and Safety Committee
Website Labour Party (UK)
Candidates seeking election
Daniel Barker Liberal Democrat
Website blog Daniel Barker
Willenhall South Liberal Democrats have chosen local campaigner and FOCUS Team leader Dan Barker as their candidate for this May’s crucial local election on May 6.
If elected Dan will join a well established team of Liberal Democrat Councillors in Walsall Council.
Dan is a member of the Friends of Willenhall Leisure Centre Group and has become well established in the community as a tireless campaigner for local people and a leader in the fight to get Walsall Council, Walsall Housing Group and other key service providers to sit up and take notice of Willenhall residents who have, for so long, been taken for granted by Labour and abandoned by Walsall Tories.
Diane Coughlan Labour Party
Website Willenhall South Labour
Your major concerns are crime and anti-social behaviour, the total disregard of Willenhall by Walsall council and the closure of our leisure centre.
I promise you that I will continue the fight against the leisure centre closure and I will support our traditional town centre and markets and unlike the Tory’s don’t believe that Morrison’s, although welcome, is the answer to all our problems.
I passionately believe that Willenhall with its rich history and the right investment could be the “Jewel in Walsall’s crown” and I will continue to work with the local community to ensure that Willenhall receives the recognition it deserves from Walsall Council.
With your support I will be able to work with Sean and Carl your local Labour Councillors to put Willenhall First”.
Stephanie Peart Democratic Labour Party
Wikipedia Democratic Labour Party
Suky Samra Conservative Party
Website West Midlands Conservatives
Analysis
Leading a high profile campaign to save Willenhall Leisure Centre, Diane Coughlan is likely to join partner Sean on the council with an increased Labour majority.
Elections
TheYamYam 7 May 10
• Aldridge Central & South
• Aldridge North & Walsall Wood
• Bentley & Darlaston North
• Birchills Leamore
• Blakenall
• Bloxwich East
• Bloxwich West
• Brownhills
• Darlaston South
• Paddock
• Palfrey
• Pelsall
• Pheasey Park Farm
• Pleck
• Rushall Shelfield
• Short Heath
• St. Matthews
• Streetly
• Willenhall North
• Willenhall South
Results 2010
Candidate Party Votes Bradie, Harry Labour 1,423 Greveson, Mark Robert Liberal Democrat 1,318 Harris, Anthony David Dan Conservative 3,474 Elected Rust, Helen Green 250
Results 2008
Candidate Party Votes Greveson, Mark Robert Liberal Democrats 464 Pearson, Ian Labour 378 Sears, Keith Conservative 2,046 Elected Registered Voters: 10,335 Turnout: 28.01%
Results 2007
Candidate Party Votes Greveson, Mark Robert Liberal Democrats 548 Flower, Mike Conservative 2,175 Elected Pearson, Ian Labour 527 Registered Voters: 10327 Turnout: % 31.62
Results 2006
Candidate Party Votes Eardley, Graham UK Independence 375 Greveson, Mark Robert Liberal Democrat 347 Harris, Anthony David Dan Conservative 1,645 Elected McCormack, Michael British National 671 Pearson, Ian Labour 540 Registered Voters: 10,305 Ballot Papers Issued: 3,586 Turnout: 34.8%
(Source: Walsall Council)
Build-up
Aldridge North and Walsall Wood ward boundary map pdf
Summary
Current cabinet member for Leisure and Culture and former transport portfolio holder Anthony Harris stands again after securing a 974 majority in 2006 when the turn-out was 34.8%. Like neighbouring Aldridge Central and South, the BNP who came in second last time, are not fielding a candidate. The councillors representing ward are both Conservatives. Mike Flower is the current cabinet member for environment and Keith Sears is chair of the Licensing and Safety Committee.
Sitting councillors in this ward
Mike Flower Conservative Party
Elected 23 Nov 06
Member details: Council attendance 88.89%, Cabinet Portfolio holder for Environment (90.91%)
Website blog Mike Flower
Keith Sears Conservative Party
Elected 1 May 75, 1 May 80
Member details: Council attendance 100%, Chair of Licensing and Safety Committee (100%) Audit Committee (55.56%), Regeneration (62.5%), Taxi Licensing Sub-Committee B (100%)
Website Aldridge Brownhills Conservative Association
Candidate seeking re-election
Anthony Harris Conservative Party
Elected 10 Jun 04
Member details: Council attendance 88.89%, Cabinet Portfolio holder for Leisure and Culture (66.67%), Development Control Committee (36.36%), Employment Appeals B, Corporate (33.33%)
Website Aldridge Brownhills Conservative Association
Candidates seeking election
Harry Bradle Labour Labour
Website Labour Party (UK)
Mark Greveson Liberal Democrats
Website Aldridge Brownhills Liberal Democrats
Helen Rust Green Party
Website Wolverhampton & Walsall Green Party
Analysis
A safe Tory seat with Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party in a close fight for second place.
Elections
TheYamYam 7 May 10
• Aldridge Central & South
• Aldridge North & Walsall Wood
• Bentley & Darlaston North
• Birchills Leamore
• Blakenall
• Bloxwich East
• Bloxwich West
• Brownhills
• Darlaston South
• Paddock
• Palfrey
• Pelsall
• Pheasey Park Farm
• Pleck
• Rushall Shelfield
• Short Heath
• St. Matthews
• Streetly
• Willenhall North
• Willenhall South
Results 2010
Candidate Party Votes Cullum, Richard Liberal Democrat 1,235 Khan, Mohammed Conservative 2,017 Nazir, Mohammad Labour 3,278 Elected
Results 2008
Candidate Party Votes Cullum, Richard John Liberal Democrats 380 Ditta, Allah Labour 1,602 Kanwar, Arshad Respect 304 Munir, Mohammad Conservative 1,736 Elected Registered Voters: 10,362 Turnout: 39.12%
Results 2007
Candidate Party Votes Kanwar, Arshad Ali Respect 617 Cullum, Richard John Liberal Democrats 507 Yasin, Mohammad Conservative 1,649 Elected Ditta, Allah Labour 1,539 Registered Voters: 10,502 Turnout: % 41.39
Results 2006
Candidate Party Votes Fazal, Nadia Respect 401 Miah, Mohammad Lulu Liberal Democrat 469 Munir, Mohammad Conservative 1,597 Nazir, Mohammad Labour 1,694 Elected Registered Voters: 10,225 Ballot Papers Issued: 4,255 Turnout: 41.61% (Source Walsall Council)
Build-up
Palfrey ward boundary map pdf
Summary
Mohammad Nazir won the seat for Labour in 2006 with a slim majority of 97 following a 41.61% turn-out. The ward is represented by Conservatives Mohammad Yasin and Mohammad Munir.
Sitting councillors in this ward
Mohammad Munir (Currently suspended from the Conservative Party group)
Elected 1 May 08, 10 Jun 04
Member Details: Council attendance 88.89%, Development Control Committee (72.73%), Employment Appeals B (66.67%), Childrens and Young People (50%), Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (0%)
Website West Midlands Conservatives
Mohammad Yasin Conservative Party
Elected 6 May 99
Member Details: Council attendance 100%, Corporate (87.5%), Environment (100%)
Website West Midlands Conservatives
Candidate seeking re-election
Mohammad Nazir Labour Party
Elected 4 May 06, 4 May 95, 5 May 88
Member Details: Council attendance 88.89%, Vice-Chair Corporate (25%), Health (14.29%)
Website Palfrey Labour
We face many complex issues locally and I believe I have the skills and vision needed to deal with them effectively and promptly. I will be persistent in following up your concerns and ensuring together that we make Palfrey, Delves and the Broadway a better place for everyone to live and work in.
Candidates seeking election
Richard Cullum Liberal Democrats
Website Walsall Liberal Democrats
Mohammed Khan Conservative Party
Website West Midlands Conservatives
Analysis
The Conservatives will hope to make a clean sweep and return three Tory councillors. The marginal ward that could go either way but a pending court case involving one of the sitting Conservative councillors might impact on the outcome.