In the run up to the General, Borough and Parish Council elections on May 7th we have been publishing brief interviews with each of the candidates that respond to our request (before the end of the month), in the order in which they respond.
To read the interviews with other candidates click on the tags at the bottom of the article. For example, pieces on the other candidates for the Alderley Edge Parish Council election will all be tagged 'Alderley Edge Parish Council Election'. Candidates representing the same party or group will also be connected via the tags.
Mike Dudley-Jones is an AlderleyEdgeFIRST candidate for Alderley Edge Parish Council.
Mike has lived in Alderley Edge since 1986 and spent three years prior to that living in Nether Alderley. His interests include gardening, cricket and motor scooters.
When asked about his background and profession, Mike said "I was educated at Rydal School then Sandhurst. After a successful army career as a Royal Tank Regiment officer, I joined Christie-Tyler plc which was the largest upholstery and furniture manufacturer in Europe. Initially the Sales Director of a highly successful and profitable subsidiary I went on to be Managing Director of one of the most successful companies in the furniture industry. After launching my own successful company and running it for 8 years, changes in furniture legislation forced a decision to close the venture.
"I was invited to join Slumberland plc as Group Sales and Marketing Director in 1988 with responsibilities in all our operating divisions in all our operating countries including the setting up and opening of two factories in China - leaving to establish my own independent Sales and Selling Consultancy in 1998.
"With major retail clients across the UK, Europe, USA, Scandinavia, Middle East and Far East I completed an unusual switch from manufacturer to retailer establishing innovative learning and development strategies for high turnover businesses and their selling teams."
Speaking about why he is standing for election, Mike told me "I have become increasingly unhappy over the past few years with the way our Village is treated by the existing Conservative Parish Council. They conduct themselves in a secretive, surly manner which leaves me suspicious of their motives and actions and I have reason to believe that, in certain cases, they have been lacking in the essential honesty and transparency that I would expect from persons in their position.
"Their conduct at meetings towards residents of this Village is deplorable showing an appalling lack of respect and manners and a woeful attitude towards positive public relations. It saddens me that more residents are not aware of their conduct which on more occasions than I would care to mention is beyond belief.
"I am standing for election because I no longer want to be treated like a serf – and I want to ensure that my fellow residents never ever feel that way again either!"
He continued "I am tired of listening to myself and others complaining about how the Village could be better. I am fortunate that I have joined 8 other people in AlderleyEdgeFIRST who feel as I do and I am certain that we will make a formidable team. We are a pleasing mix of personalities and resourceful characters who each have the confidence to deliver great ideas through lively debate. We have a determination to succeed, and a desire to present, discuss, explain, clarify, demonstrate and illustrate our collective thoughts and actions in a new style of Parish Council meeting and open presentation.
"It really is time for a huge change – and we will demonstrate that, I can promise. Hopefully, we might be able to smile and laugh together with our residents now and again – something we seldom see!"
When asked about the important issues facing Alderley Edge, Mike said "I want to see our residents proud of what our Village is and how it is viewed by others outside. It must always look good and reflect this pride as other communities have achieved nearby.
"Disciplined car parking in the Village is a major concern for residents and businesses, large and small. If elected, we will start work on a comprehensive review of needs and options, complete with detailed costing and share this information with the residents in our 'special' Parish meetings. Forging new working relationships with Cheshire East Council will help considerably in this area as will the many innovative options that have yet to be considered. Such a review will inevitably need to carefully examine the use of our open and green spaces so the decisions we take will need to carry overwhelming support from our Village people. Research and evaluation need to happen at some pace but we will only act when we feel we have arrived at the best options.
"Of course, we will never stop those in our society who feel that they are above the law and who choose to park wherever they wish – but then that is part of Alderley Edge life too! After all, why should a Bus Stop opposite the Bar and Grill just be for buses when a car parked there can be SEEN by all!
"Whilst the Park is currently being spruced up, we all know that for the last few years there has been almost no investment there. It looks lackluster with almost nothing for our younger folk to do. That does need to change. We have plans we want to discuss with our newly appointed Youth Ambassadors to the Council who will help to steer us in a sensible direction, if we are elected. We need lighting in the Park, perhaps a small skateboard area, a five a side football/basketball/volley ball pitch with artificial grass surface and perhaps two all weather table tennis tables within the old bandstand area? I would love to see the formation of a Youth Bowling Team? Just a thought!"
Mike continued "We need to fence the whole of the existing children's play area as just one dog a week fouling that area will quickly render it a huge worry for parents.
"Of course, this will all cost money but perhaps our new proud Village will help to fund these changes from a new charitable venture helped by those who enjoy living here so much. We should help to bring such a venture into being.
"If elected we need to complete the building work on the new Medical Centre and review the plans for the future of the Festival Hall where some remedial repair work has started. I am not certain what has been planned by the existing Parish Council for the Festival Hall but an urgent review needs to be started and the wishes of the Village need to be taken into account. I have personally always rather hoped to hear about a new luxury small cinema/theatre but until we are elected it is difficult to know what has been planned, how it was decided, by whom, what it will cost and who will build it. But then we are used to not being told!
"Let us start to think about the reasons why these things can all happen though - not spend our lives coming up with reasons why they can't!"
I asked Mike, if elected, what did he hope to achieve and how. He replied "A very great deal through a lot of hard work!
"I am certain that being a Parish Councillor is not easy and whatever has happened in the past still meant that the existing team had to dedicate their own personal time to their duties and they have all done this selflessly – except the one who went to live in South Africa!!
"I am semi retired. I continue as a School Governor and the President of the Alderley Edge Allotments and Gardens Society so I have more time than some to work closely with our formidable group of Support Team advisors.
"I want to work with a close knit Parish Council team who find it easy to communicate with our Village. A team that pays great respect to the diverse views of others and a team that is spoken of fondly by the people who live in our Village.
"We will never please all of the people all of the time. Of that we can be certain. But I want to try!"
Finally, I asked Mike why Alderley Edge residents should vote for him. He said "I am a very cheerful optimist who communicates easily and well, I believe! I bring considerable business and people skills to our team and hope that the leadership roles I have taken in the past will serve us all well as we grow the strength of our team. Each of us has a great deal to offer and each of us, irrespective of age, will be expected to 'lead our thinking' as we address the many issues that will face us.
"When geese fly across our skies, they fly in a 'V' formation with one goose leading. That goose flies flat out and leads the team; the others fly in each other's slipstream until it is their turn to fly to the front and fly to lead! All the geese honk – to encourage the lead goose. By doing it this way they can fly faster and further that almost any other birds. But is the Quality Honking that makes it all happen!
"I believe that AlderleyEdgeFIRST will create some QUALITY HONKING over the coming years!"
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Here's to honking then! (in the geese analogy sense of course)
your response to my 'interview' was to write that I was wrong to us it to 'launch another attack on his opposition'.
At least 7 of the paragraphs in your novelette are attacking the P.C.
Care to explain the difference please?
Nice to see your ideas for the park. I do believe that you are the first AEFirst candidate to offer up something 'real' rather than generalisations. Is there a chance that you might offer up a costing for those ideas, before the date of the election. After all the PC has provided costings (and ways of paying) for the Medical centre and the re-furb of the Festival Hall.
As an 'old soldier' you will accept the wisdom of having full info. before mounting an attack?
By the way, in no way am I being sarcastic about the army. Time to put the defence budget back up.
Only 9 days to go: may the best man/woman win.
While we on the subject of costings (you are asking Mike for them even before he has been elected onto the PC), can you provide us with costings for the car park that you are insisting is to be built please? There is a world of difference between Mike's new ideas and proposals which, I'm sure will be properly costed BEFORE they are presented formally as proposed initiatives by the new PC, and the Parish Council's own well-published plan for Heyes Lane which, we are agreed, have been now about 4 years in the pipeline. Before the date of election, please.
I think your chosen expression relating to 'goose' and 'gander' is even more appropriate now, don't you? Honk!
its not a secret. The car park on Heyes Lane is costed at no more than £300,000. The final cost, which may be less of course, will depend on the degree of spacing and what other facilities may be installed. All that will be a detailed discussion before going ahead.
There you are, costing before the election date. You only have to ask and your splendid PC leaps into action for you !
If Mike puts forward proposals, should they not be costed? Why might the public be asked to elect Mike (splendid chap though he is) without costing of his idea/s?
Goose has spoken; come on gander ! Let's have some honking costing !
Hi Martin,
what resonates around now is 'give us a costing' ?
Good luck Mike, and beware those that want to know the cost of everything, but have little idea of the value of anything!
You have freely admitted you have joined 8 others to become what is now known as the AlderleyEdgeFIRST group.
However, as President of the Alderley Edge Allotments Society and IF you were successful at the forthcoming local elections, I presume you would be abstaining from any discussions and voting procedures when it comes to the subject of the Allotments / Car Park ?
After all, there is a serious conflict of interest here, especially as you have not mentioned anything about the Allotments / Car Park subject in your interview above, apart from the standard "we'll start work on a comprehensive review of needs and options" etc.
So, are you are FOR the Allotments in Heyes Lane or AGAINST them ?
Thank you for your comment.
In the minutes of the last Alderley Edge Allotments and Gardens Society Committee meeting the Chairman explained to the Society that I will, in all probability, resign from my position as President.
I thought that you might like evidence of my optimism!
Before his profile, Mike was on my definite NO list.
Could I vote for him now? Yes.
The benefit and power of alderleyedge.com
Please don't let us forget, the immense contribution that Lisa, is also making for democracy in our village.
I still disagree with him on the big issue of Heyes Lane Car Park, and I don't agree that the village needs "huge change". I do think the current council has done itself a disservice with poor Public Relations, but I do feel that they have made, mainly, the right decisions in the best interest of our village, as a whole. Not for personal gain, nor by protecting a small minority at the expense of the majority.
I admire everyone of the eighteen candidates, for their commitment to our village.
as I have written several times in the past, I do not speak for anyone but myself; if I go on about a PC policy then I try to make that clear.
When Claire recently asked me what was to be the likely cost of a car park at Heyes Lane, I told her, on alderleyedge.com.
Of course its not a secret. All our people out canvassing have been able to use this figure.
Is a part of your annoyance because 'we' can say yet again that we give costs/try to answer questions etc. Whereas AEFirst dont'
By the way, on the subject of communications: have you noticed that recently, say the last month, every Conservative PC candidate has been 'on' ae. com (some pore than others of course) but there are several AEFirst candidates that are as silent as can be? Are you able to say why that is as it is? Or if you can't, could some AEFirst candidate inform us?
After all, there was space alongside your photo for this vital piece of information ?
Isn't this just the type of transparency you are currently complaining about in others ?
Are you FOR or AGAINST keeping the Heyes Lane Allotments ?
I know you are CURRENTLY President of the Alderley Edge Allotments Society, so what are your views on moving the Allotments somewhere else ? Please let us know ?
Okay, you state you will, in all probability, resign from your position as President ?
I MAY offer to give £1.million to the RSPCA, but don't bank on it ........
I'm also a little disappointed with you, Mike, that you didn't announce in the "Independent" leaflet that you were, and still are, President of the Alderley Edge Allotments Society.
There was certainly space alongside your photo for this important announcement, especially as it has been published and promoted by you, on behalf of the AE1.
This leaflet was sent, presumably, to every single voter in the area, whereas not as many voters will read the candidates interviews .........
This looks exactly like the same lack of transparency you are complaining about of others.
I know you now as someone who is thorough and I respect the points you have made on a number of the issues that face us. As to the remarks you have made about me here I can only thank you.
You are right to mention the huge contribution Lisa is making to democracy in the Village. alderleyedge.com is well managed and expertly executed and I hope you will believe me when I say that it was always my intention to draw the Village's attention to this and pass to her our thanks and best wishes for her excellent journalism and professionalism. I was just going to say our thanks a little later though!!
But I am happy to do it twice!!!
Your other points are also noted and acknowledged.
Thank you again.
Calling me 'pathetic' for expressing an opinion that happens not to reflect your own views is one thing.
But to then imply that when Mike tells you (on a public forum) he will resign as President of the Allotment Society that he is probably lying is, frankly, beyond the pale.
Do you not see that your combative and aggressive approach is more likely to sway voters towards a new Parish Council that is explicitly promoting 'respect' and 'openness', rather than the other way?
Please do not question me when I tell you that my likely resignation as President of the Alderley Edge Allotments and Gardens Society is already noted by the Society. You seemed to suggest that I might not be telling the truth. If I am elected I will resign; fact! As I am an optimist I am therefore expecting to resign. Perhaps we could come to an arrangement. I will tell you when I resign and you can show me your signed cheque to the RSPCA for £1million. I will even run it down to the post box for you!
We have spent well over a week now debating the Heyes Lane issue and I do not propose to cover the same ground again. I have stated that AEFIRST will focus on every aspect of the parking problems that our Village faces with the many interested parties. There will, almost certainly, not be a single solution. Joy will come from a carefully thought through series of solutions that will hopefully serve the Village well in the years to come. Until we are able to start that process I can only say that no possible element can be ruled out.
There are a number of things I might have added to my profile either on the leaflet or here. I chose for example not to mention that I chaired the Royal Oldham Hospital Scanner Appeal where a group of us (mostly busy A&E nurses and me 'the bed bloke') raised £1 million in three years. We might be able to use some of the experience that we gained there here in Alderley Edge to raise money to equip our Park with the facilities are younger folk could enjoy, not available to them now. But it is part of our Plan as you will have already read.
I have already said Mike has a great career CV, but in my opinion, one or two items are left unanswered and that's the whole idea of discussions on here, surely ?
I said that Mike tells us all (on a public forum) that, in all probability, he will resign.
Clearly, he did NOT say he would resign, only PROBABLY.
Fine, but that is NOT resigning as President of the Alderley Edge Allotments Society
A little ambiguous ? ..... resigning is resigning ..... PROBABLY resigning is not resigning !
These are specific details that are overlooked and may lead to confusion in the future.
This is a very important subject and one I would like Mike to answer.
You keep going on about AE1 not providing costings, do you not think you might be being a little unreasonable. AE1 has only been in existence for a few months and they have had to organise an enormous amount in that time. They appear to have organised themselves incredibly well in that time.
When they are elected to the PC they will have to evaluate many things, as they have repeatedly said. They intend to do this a quickly as possible and consider solutions. It is then that they will cost things out, accurately and diligently. They will then make those findings public and ask for comment.
However you and your fellow Parish Councillors who have been in office for what seems to be a long time, with all the resources that are available to the PC, have not come up with a costing for the allotments for over 4 years. Even then it is a back of the fag packet calculation probably based on Mr Keegan asking his mates at Emerson to do it for him. Even then you have not openly disclosed it in PC meetings; instead choosing to pass this information on during canvassing. If I am incorrect, then maybe you could point me to the Parish minutes where this is documented.
You have told me that you don't know who has surveyed the site and come up with the figures, you don't know if the figure includes any legal fees, you don't know what additional facilities will need paying for, you don't know why the figures are so inexact and you don't know if the contract will be tendered for. That would lead me to ask; why don't you know? Do you not think as a Parish Councillor you have a duty to know about these things. I am assuming you have voted on issues to do with the allotments. How can you make a decision on how to vote if you don't have the information?
why should AEFirst have costings? Surely the individuals that make up AEFirst have been sentient before AEFirst came about? As some of them have benn succesfull in business, they can easily do a spot of costing? What would worry me, if I were an uncommited voter is that I am being asked to vote for a party 'on trust'; I'd rather know what I would be voting for.
Apart from costings, what about my persistent questions as to exactly how they intend to consult, who will do the consulting and what that might cost? Surely there are individuals in AEFirst who can answer that without awaiting the result of the election?
What resources that are available to the PC ? if I want to know something, as a parish councillor, I get up off my backside and go ask. If you imagine there is a pack of assisstants at the PC; I wish !
Your remark about 'Mr. Keegan and his mates at Emerson' is not just unrespectful, it is insulting. Councillor Keegan is able to stand up for himself but my own view is that your comment is way off the scale of what might decently be said during a parish council election.
You might even feel ashamed.
My decision to vote for a car park on Heyes Lane is based on the evident need for a car park, the lack of any other viable site (care to get off the fence and name one?) and the proximity of that site to the new Medical Centre.
As to my not knowing every detail; as I have alredy remarked, many of the details are yet to be settled. Do you not approve of the PC proceeding slowly and carefully?
Loved your contributions! Very refreshing. Great idea re luxury cinema in the village.
Honk Honk Honk....Heather
I think the point here is that the uncommitted voter does know what they are voting for; they are voting for change.
Very strangely, I do not feel in the least ashamed regarding my comment about Mr. Keegan. I assume you were at the February meeting of the general purpose committee, I will jog your memory if you are not sure, according to the minutes, it was the one where you discussed and voted on signing the building contract with Jones and Mr Keegan declared a DPI (Disclosable Pecuniary Interest). It must stick in your mind because I believe it is the first time he has done this.
Thank you for your note. We must always keep exploring what can be done rather than coming up with reasons why something cannot happen.
I love the geese. Working as a team; going out of the way to help each other to do great things like leading the flock. Rachael Grantham from AEFIRST had a wonderful evening last night leading our flock with the Girl Guides. There was great excitement there with Guides and Parents alike. Quality Honking!!
If you want to lift your spirit - click on my favourite link:-
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HGY9i8iJu94
Alderley Edge First has my vote. Good luck Mike and his team.
I have seen first-hand the dismissive and disrespectful way that some (not all) of the incumbent Parish Council have behaved towards the electorate over the past few years. I find it hard to believe that the ideas of certain councillors are bulldozed through without any consideration for what the majority of the "serfdom" thinks.
I have no allotment, nor any connection to the allotments. I just want a transparent and trustworthy Parish Council which I can rely on to do the best for the village. Sadly due to the behaviour of certain councillors, I do not believe that we have this at present.
I wholeheartedly hope that every one of you is elected. All the best.