2016 City of Lincoln Council election candidates – Moorland ward

Nine candidates from four parties are standing in Moorland ward for the City of Lincoln Council elections taking place on Thursday, May 5.

Below is a list of all the candidates standing in the ward:

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Bob Bushell – Labour

Age: N/A

Marital Status: Living with Partner

Twitter: N/A

What are the main issues affecting your ward, and how would you address them if elected as a city councillor?

Poverty and social deprivation, crime and antisocial behaviour, dog fouling, speeding. Lack of affordable housing, litter, poor condition of the pavements.

I will continue to work with the city council, the police, county council and other agencies to try to resolve these issues and help to make Moorland ward and the city of Lincoln an even better and more pleasant place to live.

What makes you different to the other candidates in your ward?

I lived in Moorland for over 30 years and have represented the ward almost continuously since 1995. I am passionate about the city and believe that ordinary people like me need to stand up and speak up for their community. I enjoy meeting residents and assisting them with their concerns.

I have worked as a mental health nurse for over 40 years and feel the training and experience gained enables me to utilise these skills and helps me to carry out the role of councillor. I am honest and committed.

Tell us something interesting about you that not many people know.

I am a member of Lincoln Ukulele Band and I am a pescatarian.

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Geoff Ellis – Labour

Age: 62

Marital Status: Married

Twitter: gainsbro9669

What are the main issues affecting your ward, and how would you address them if elected as a city councillor?

Like most parts of the city, Moorland has to cope with government funding cuts that are affecting basic services such as community policing and the poor state of roads and footpaths. I will continue to press for adequate funding to meet the residents needs by continuing to work with all groups and agencies to improve the life of all residents.

What makes you different to the other candidates in your ward?

I live in the heart of the ward, meet many residents on a daily basis when out walking my dogs, I am available at all times, I know very many residents personally and though I’ve never claimed to work wonders I can say with honesty to have always done my best to assist everyone to the best of my ability.

Tell us something interesting about you that not many people know.

I am organiser for Lincoln Labour Leave EU & Co Chair Lincoln Vote Leave Campaign. I have had a lifelong interest in railways.

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Kevin Harrington – UKIP

Age: 52

Marital Status: Married

Twitter: N/A

What are the main issues affecting your ward, and how would you address them if elected as a city councillor?

Infrastructure: Our housing, education, health and social services cannot cope with constantly rising numbers of people coming to live and work here. The government is now riding rough-shod over local people’s wishes with mass house building that has become a ‘Developers Charter’ without the new services and infrastructure to go with it. I would fight against over development and protect our countryside and green spaces. Development only works if it is wanted locally and adequate provision is made for infrastructure including roads, transport, schools, doctors, dentists and community facilities.

What makes you different to the other candidates in your ward?

UKIP councillors are here to serve you, the community. We believe in putting local people first and putting local communities back in control of what happens in our local areas. We have the freedom to vote how we choose; the community is our ‘boss’ and we are not ‘whipped’ to bloc vote like other political parties.

We get involved in our communities to make a difference in everyday lives. Whether it is looking after the elderly and vulnerable, winter gritting, cleaning public toilets or litter picks. It is our practice to roll up our sleeves and get the job done.

Tell us something interesting about you that not many people know.

I served my country in the Armed Forces for over 34 years; joining at 16 as a boy soldier and retiring 2 years ago as an Army Officer. I am now an Officer in the Army Reserves and also the Treasurer of the Lincoln Branch of the Royal British Legion.

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David Kerry – Conservative

Age: N/A

Marital Status: N/A

Twitter: N/A

What are the main issues affecting your ward, and how would you address them if elected as a city councillor?

One of the main issues is the levels of anti-social behavior within the ward area. I would be looking to work much closer with the relevant bodies, such as the local police in that area, whilst also making sure that the council fully takes note and deals with the issues properly. In addition, I would look to increase the amount of ward surgeries that are available to ensure that any problems can be reported without any significant delay.

What makes you different to the other candidates in your ward?

I’m more than prepared to get stuck in and do whatever is necessary to ensure the best possible outcome for the area. I am also much more determined to ensure that my opinions, and those of the people I am representing, on issues both in the ward, and council matters in general, and heard and taken into account within decision making. I am fully committed to making sure that I use whatever tools I have at my disposal to making sure that the Moorland ward gets the care and attention that it deserves.

Tell us something interesting about you that not many people know.

I spent three years studying at the University of Leicester, gaining a 2:1 degree for History and Politics.

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Sharon Longthorne – Conservative

Age: N/A

Marital Status: N/A

Twitter: N/A

What are the main issues affecting your ward, and how would you address them if elected as a city councillor?

The main issues that I will tackle are the continuing problems with anti-social behaviour and looking at working with partners to try to address the issue of lack of facilities for young people. This will be as well as working with the estate management team to approach issues in the ward as they arise.

What makes you different to the other candidates in your ward?

I am a resident of the area and am closely involved in the life of the area and want to work to improve that facilities and amenities as well as looking at ways of improving facilities for young and older residents alike. I have 12 years experience working with young people and feel that this will help me to drive forward local projects. I am keeping up the pressure on the Highways department regarding the continuous traffic jams on Newark Road and Rookery Lane following the redesign of the junction.

Tell us something interesting about you that not many people know.

I am a keen musician and singer, and am starting to return to music rehearsing with several local bands.

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Adrianna McNulty – Labour

Age: 23

Marital Status: Married

Twitter: adrianna_ellis

What are the main issues affecting your ward, and how would you address them if elected as a city councillor?

The main issues effecting moorland ward are much the same as the rest of the city such as speeding, bad footpath quality and anti social behaviour. I shall continue to work alongside the local policing and continue to Pursue the funding.

What makes you different to the other candidates in your ward?

I grew up in the ward and work within the ward. I spent most my days in the ward. I know the residents well. I am also the youngest councillor standing in the city again.

Tell us something interesting about you that not many people know.

I have grown up around politics having campaigned whilst learning to ride a bike! It was a must to stand, following my grandad, dad and mum who have all been councillors as well as mayors of the city. I hope to follow the tradition.

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Vasos Melides – Conservative

Age: N/A

Marital Status: N/A

Twitter: N/A

What are the main issues affecting your ward, and how would you address them if elected as a city councillor?

Unfortunately anti-social behaviour is an issue within our area. We need to work pro-actively with our Police and Crime Commissioner to ensure this is tackled as a top priority. Something that also keeps coming up when I talk to residents is potholes.

Lincoln Labour aren’t doing enough to take advantage of government funding available to tackle this issue. I also want to ensure that businesses are encouraged across Lincoln so that the local economy can continue to offer job opportunities for local people. If elected, I will hold regular surgeries to address all issues that arise in Moorland.

What makes you different to the other candidates in your ward?

I’m more than prepared to get stuck in and do whatever is necessary to ensure the best possible outcome for the area. I am also much more determined to ensure that my opinions, and those of the people I am representing, on issues both in the ward, and council matters in general, and heard and taken into account within decision making. I am fully committed to making sure that I use whatever tools I have at my disposal to making sure that the Moorland ward gets the care and attention that it deserves.

Tell us something interesting about you that not many people know.

I am of Greek Cypriot decent. I enjoy going Gym, playing football and squash. I gained my MCIPS accreditation (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply) in 2015 and have a Degree in Business and Politics. I enjoy watching Sci-fi on the box and my favorite book is Orwell 1984.

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Lynn Pepper – Liberal Democrats

Age: 61

Marital Status: N/A

Twitter: N/A

What are the main issues affecting your ward, and how would you address them if elected as a city councillor?

Some parts of the ward are suffering from high levels of deprivation. We need find ways for providing extra support to those areas to ensure we create a fair and equal society. By investing in projects to support local families and businesses, especially those aimed at young people like additional apprenticeships or youth groups where they can develop new skills, we could help alleviate the problems the ward faces.

What makes you different to the other candidates in your ward?

I am able to listen to people. I would look to meeting with residents on a regular basis and work with them in improving Moorland ward for the benefit of all residents. My aim would be to make sure the local residents in Moorland ward have a strong local champion and I feel I could deliver that having lived in the ward for over 20 years.

Tell us something interesting about you that not many people know.

I am a trained chef and was part of a kitchen that made over a 1000 meals a day.

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Ross Pepper – Liberal Democrats

Age: 29

Marital Status: Single

Twitter: RossDPepper

What are the main issues affecting your ward, and how would you address them if elected as a city councillor?

Traffic congestion one of the biggest issues in the ward. The area around the Skellingthorpe Road and Doddington Road level crossing and their junctions with Tritton Road needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency, especially in the light of the future development of Swanpool, which will increase the problem further. There are already bottle-necks and improvements would need to take the longer term view, not just a short term quick fix.

We also need to ensure we have decent affordable housing for all in both the private and rental markets, including social housing.

What makes you different to the other candidates in your ward?

Being a local resident in Moorland for 20 years, I am well placed to understand the needs and concerns of Moorland’s residents, and I feel I have the passion and commitment to fight for a better deal for Moorland on the Council. I also want to make politics local again, where the people living in the ward know their local representative and can approach them to talk about the issues that matter to them as individuals and work alongside them to help improve the neighbourhood.

Tell us something interesting about you that not many people know.

I am currently in the middle of writing a novel.