PARKSTONE BAY ASSOCIATION
Dear Resident,
Four years ago, just prior to local elections, our association felt it would be helpful to ask
pertinent questions of all candidates. As a result, we received very favourable feedback from
residents and candidates. We believe it will be useful to repeat the exercise and hope the
answers below will assist you when casting your vote on Thursday 02 May 2019. Please
excuse presentation –just want to get the newsletter to you asap!
Best wishes
Mike Randall (Chair PBA)
Question 1: How will you ensure the interests of residents (particularly at
Whitecliff and Baiter Park) are fully represented at the new council and not just
steam-rollered by the Bournemouth majority?
Question 2: How will you respond if interests of your residents are at odds with
decisions or recommendations made by your party at BCP level?
Question 3: ‘Travellers’ is one of the most sensitive issues faced by residents with
regular incursions at Whitecliff and Baiter Park. How can you address concerns of
the residents, given the fact there is currently a large encampment of travellers
at Harbourside 2 car park?
JO AYLWARD CARTER (Labour)
1. Within Poole Council, the opposition parties to the Conservatives let themselves be
steamrollered time and time again due to their lack of co-ordination, knowledge of
procedures or political knowledge. We cannot allow the new BCP council to become a
chamber full of Conservative yes men and women. As a Labour councillor, I will speak to the
residents of Parkstone and take their concerns to the council chambers, representing them.
As part of a Labour group, combined of Labour councillors across the conurbation, it will not
be easy for us to be steamrollered when representing you.
2. As mentioned above, a group of Labour councillors working together is more positive and
able to achieve their goals than one lone wolf opposition. As your Labour councillor, I will put
my residents’ needs first and ensure I am representing you. The Labour Party understands
that there may be occasions when I would be required to vote against the party. There are
no such things as “3 Line Whips” in local government, and I would be provided dispensation
to vote as required when it comes to my ward
3. I see that under section 62A of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 police are
supposed to direct travellers to authorised sites within the local authority, but as far as I can
see there is only one in the whole area. For me, best practice recommends finding a
negotiated solution with the travellers to avoid conflict with them and residents.
STEVE BARON (Poole People Party)
1. I was very concerned when twenty-one Conservative councillors voted to hand over
control of our town to Bournemouth. I will do my best to ensure that our town doesn’t just
become a ‘suburb’ of Bournemouth
2. One of the beliefs within our party is that we’re left to vote with our residents’ best
interests and not be whipped-in by national or local party politics
3. Travellers is a very contentious issue. Looking at more effective physical barriers would
certainly assist
JOHN CHALLINOR (Conservative)
1. I’ve worked hard to represent the interest of Parkstone and Poole residents over the last
four years and, if elected, would continue to do so in the new council. A majority of
councillors from one party across the Poole wards is the best way to ensure a strong voice
for the town
2. Councillors are elected to represent their ward as well as work for the best interests of
the whole authority. This can sometimes be difficult though I would always make sure that
my residents’ views are heard and will support them to the fullest and have used my ability
to positively challenge decisions in the past
3. I fully support all measures that the council can pursue to prevent/ remove incursions and
we are awaiting results from the government on the recent consultation on this issue. We
are expecting tougher and quicker decisions to be available to councils and, once they are, I
would press BCP to adopt these at the earliest convenience
GRANT GILLINGHAM – (Liberal Democrats)
1.My Liberal democrat colleagues on the council consistently voted against the merger and
are proposing the creation of ‘Community Councils’ to give power back to the communities
and halt the centralisation of power to Bournemouth. I am also a strong proponent of crossparty
cooperation and would work with representative of other parties in Poole to ensure
that our town has a strong voice on the new council
2. I will priorities the interests of residents over party decisions because I believe councillors
are elected to represent their residents first and foremost. Therefore, if my party are
pursuing something that would not be in the interests of my residents, I would ensure that I
would use my input to address their concerns and seek an outcome that would benefit
Parkstone residents
3. I am supportive of the Lib Dem policy of providing a permanent site for use by the
travelling communities in order to relieve seasonal pressure on our parks and open spaces
CRISPIN JAMES GOODALL (Liberal Democrat)
1. One reason for standing is that I am a resident of the Parkstone ward; anything that
affects our resident affects me. Every council should have good leadership-which hasn’t
always been the case recently-and perhaps even more importantly, a good opposition. If
Poole is to be well represented (and I am a ‘Poole person’), then a strong Liberal Democrat
representation on the council and possibly the creation of ‘Community Councils’ will help to
ameliorate the steam-roller effect.
2. This question came up at my adoption meeting: it is understood that should an individual
disagree with party instructions provided it is clear in advance that you disagree, then you
may follow your conscience and local interest and those of the residents come first
3. Without going into the legal details which are on the BCP website, permanent sites for
traveller communities are required in suitable locations
MICHAEL HANCOCK (Independent)
1. I have initiated forming a Neighbourhood Forum for Parkstone
(www.parkstoneneighbourhood.org.uk). For me this is the starting point as legislation
prioritises Neighbourhood Plans over Local Plans and it becomes a formal consultee. The
merger has created a democratic deficit in Poole and I am determined to ensure this gap is
filled. I will honour the decisions and recommendations made by this Forum. Modern well
organised, well-informed forum that is media savvy will be hard for BCP council to ignore
2. I am standing as an independent candidate alongside the Alliance for Local Living (ALL).
It’s very simple, I will not support and decisions or recommendations if it is at odds with the
residents in Parkstone. I intend for the Neighbourhood Forum (open to ALL) to be able to
put forward decisions and recommendations I will take to the BCP council as a councillor
3. There needs to be a registered ‘Travellers’ camp in the BCP area. With this police will be
empowered to move travellers on. The identification and selection of a site will be
challenging and require effort and I will have to work hard to get this addressed. We need
to work together across BCP to find a solution. I recall chairing a school debate on the
subject when I was 12. We came up with some good ideas then. It saddens me that 30
years later issues like this have not been resolved
ANN STRIBLEY (Conservative)
1. Only the election of one Party with a clear majority of Poole’s seats can ensure a strong
voice for Poole. All Councillors have a clear duty to represent the interests of their Ward
and residents to the best of their ability; however, all Councillors have an absolute duty to
vote in the best interests of the whole Authority
2. If elected I will always do everything that I able to do to support the interests of the
residents of my Ward.
3. I will do everything possible to ensure our parks and open spaces are protected from
unauthorised incursions. When there are unauthorised encampments I will support all
proper legal action to have them removed at the earliest possible moment.
We have not received a reply from:
KEITH LAWSON (Green Party)PLEASE DO USE YOUR VOTE WISELY ON 02 MAY 2019