THIS week the Oxford Mail is speaking to candidates from the different political parties standing to win power on Oxfordshire County Council on May 6. Today, this paper looks at the smaller political parties and independent councillors standing across the county.

Independents

There are 12 independent candidates standing across the county: Les Sibley (Bicester West), Chaka Artwell (Barton, Sandhills and Risinghurst), Judith Harley (Cowley), David Henwood (Cowley), Hakeem Yousaf (Isis), Michael Evans (Rose Hill and Littlemore), Jamila Azad (St Clements and Cowley Marsh), Stefan Gawrysiak (Henley), Jeanette Matelot (Thame and Chinnor), Antony Houghton (North Hinksey), Pete Handley (Carterton South and West), Adrian Henry-Wyatt (Witney South and Central).

Les Sibley. Picture: Jon Lewis

Les Sibley. Picture: Jon Lewis

Mr Sibley said he had five main campaign issues for his Bicester seat: finish the realigned Howes Lane, make sure a new community hospital was built in the 'right place' and was accessible, bring the town's Magistrates Court into use as a community building, support changes to the London Road level crossing, and 'welcome back bobbies on the beat'.

Mr Artwell's manifesto for election criticises current council policy on £65 car parking passes, and the unaffordable nature of housing.and reads: 'Oxford City and County Council needs Politically Independent Councillors' and adds 'Anti-Car, Anti-Business, false-Green Policies hurt working people'.

Judith Harley said: "As a long-term Cowley resident any changes affect me as much as other residents, and we want the best from these services and schemes. The experimental trial of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods is proving divisive through limited consultation and lack of forethought, flexibility, and imagination. I want full and inclusive consultations over LTNs, CPZs, and “School Streets” to get the best, and limit the worst aspects of these schemes."

Michael Evans, an engineer and Littlemore parish councillor, was also concerned with how LTNs and controlled parking zones had affected Rose Hill and Littlemore, and added he did not think party politics should play a part in local government.

Stefan Gawrysiak, who currently represents the area said he would 'work his socks off' for the town and added: "I have organised volunteers for the vaccine clinics and helped secure more clinics in our wonderful Townlands Hospital, completed 26 major roads schemes a road investment of almost £1 million, three pedestrian crossings and the 20 mph zone."

Jeanette Matelot, who has been Thame councillor for four years, said: "One of my priorities is 20mph limits in the local villages and working with the community and groups like Friends of the Earth to get some shared-use cycle paths. Residents are keen to reduce carbon emissions, but there are no adequate cycling links between Thame and the seven neighbouring villages, and most have no public transport."

Reform UK

Formerly the Brexit Party, candidates standing include Stephen Hartley (Banbury Hardwick), Eladia Posthill (Abingdon South), Richard Langridge (Witney North and East), and Mark Bezerra Speeks (Witney South and Central).

Richard Langridge

Richard Langridge

Mr Langridge said: "I want to help reform councils so that they listen to, and respect all views. I want to help restore proper accountable Local democracy to Oxfordshire.

"As a nation, we must rebuild after the pandemic, and Reform UK has the correct low tax, high growth Economic strategy to achieve this."

Freedom Alliance

This anti-lockdown party, is standing Francis O'Neill (Iffley Fields and St. Mary's), Mark Boulle (Marston and Northway), Vivienne Lee (Henley), Marie Mason (Sonning Common), Jill Kirkwood (Abingdon East), and Geoff Sandford (Abingdon North).

Burning Pink

Dave Baldwin is standing for this new political party focussed on the climate crisis in Hanborough and Minster Lovell. He said: "Politicians at every level have proved that they lack the courage and initiative to make the obvious changes required to save the planet from disaster."

He added: "We are standing in local elections across the country with one intention. When we take power we will sack the politicians, initiate citizens assemblies and then resign."

For Britain Movement

Lorenzo de Gregori is standing for the far-right party the For Britain Movement in the Leys division.

Mr de Gregori, who moved to the UK from Italy in 2005 and works in IT, said the council needed to 'cut the waste and make councillors responsible for their mistakes'.

He added: "Reducing waste, we could finally get on with doing what is needed while lowering taxes for a change and restarting the local economy."