Five up for town ward by-election

Five candidates have been announced for the seat of Spalding St Paul’s ward, including one standing as an independent after being over-looked for the Conservative role.

Those standing on Thursday, November 9, for the district council seat vacated by the resignation of South Holland Independent’s Bailey Boulding are; Vanessa Browning (South Holland Independents), Aidan Forman for the Labour Party), Glynis Scalese (Conservatives), Stephen Timewell (True Independent) and Julian Wheeler (no party specified).
Mrs Scalese had previously held the seat for the Conservatives but was voted out in May.
She earned 269 votes, 116 behind Mr Boulding.
“I’m delighted to be standing for the Conservatives,” she said. “I’ve done a lot of work in the area, including four years as the ward’s councillor, and I always put people before politics.”
Mrs Scalese beat off several Conservatives to be selected as their candidate again for the seat.
One of those candidates was Steve Timewell who has instead resigned as a Conservative and is standing as what he describes as a ‘True Independent’.
Last December he won the by-election for the Spalding Monkshouse seat for the Conservatives previously held by the late Coun Angela Newton.
But he was voted out in May’s election while standing for the party.
He told The Voice he’d left the party last week due to being ‘very disappointed in the current national political status’.
“I’m standing as a true independent so that I can raise the concerns of local residents, without fear of upsetting fellow councillors,” he said.
“I do not have to toe the party line and agree with decisions in order to maintain my position in the council.”
“If elected, my main aims will immediately be making sure that the recently awarded £20m is spent wisely, with no money being wasted on consultations and administration. I want to make sure that people get value for money from the council and that all the promises they have made are brought to fruition.”
“I think that people deserve to have an independent voice with determination to get on and get things done.”
Mr Timewell’s decision did not go down well with some other councillors.
Coun Rob Gibson, the other councillor for the ward and the leader of the South Holland Independents, which had already announced Vanessa Browning as candidate, said: “I think it’s quite disrespectful to the electorate.
“He asked to be a candidate for the Conservatives but wasn’t chosen and days later he’s saying he’s an independent. It’s a lie.
“He just wants to be on the council and is picking and choosing the opportunities.
“St Paul’s is one of the most deprived areas of South Holland so it needs the right person.
“The candidate is supposed to be representing the people of the ward, not just themselves.”
Coun Henry Bingham, who was part of the Conservatives selection committee said Mr Timewell’s decision to resign and stand himself was ‘disappointing’.
“We had a very fair selection process and we feel we’ve made the right decision.
“Glynis is a brilliant councillor who really cares for the area and has already worked really hard for it.”
Mr Timewell said: “It’s irrelevant at the end of the day.
“I’ve decided I can do more for local people as an independent than I can as a Conservative.”
Another independent candidate is Julian Wheeler who lives in the ward and is holding public meetings to introduce himself at Nene Court Community Centre on Thames Road on Tuesday October 24 at 5pm and 7pm.
“There is no doubt Spalding has seen a period of degeneration since I moved to the region 20 years ago and although I am naturally concerned with Spalding generally, putting St Pauls first is my priority,” he said. “I feel the St Paul’s area has suffered a disproportionate reduction in both amenities and services compared to the rest of the Town, a situation I am keen to try to rectify.”
Also standing for the seat for Labour is Aidan Foreman who contested the Spalding Wygate seat last May, missing out by just 22 votes.
He says he is the first Labour candidate for the seat since 1999.
“Unlike the usual Conservative and Independent councillors, I am bringing something different to the table,” he said.
“I stand for real change from the stagnant status quo that has held our area back.”