In the run up to the local elections on May 2nd I am publishing brief interviews with each of the candidates - standing for seats on both the Parish Council and Cheshire East Council - that respond to my request, in the order in which they respond.
To read interviews with other candidates you will be able to 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 2019 Election'. Candidates representing the same party or group will also be connected via the tags and all articles will be tagged '2019 Local Elections'.
Paul Brearley is a Conservative Party candidate for both the Alderley Edge ward on Cheshire East Council and Alderley Edge Parish Council.
Paul was previously a Senior Operations Manager for a private sector healthcare provider.
He is Clerk to and Parish Councillor on Little Warford Parish Council and a member of the management committee for the Hall at Marthall.
Why have you decided to stand for election as a ward councillor at CEC?
I feel that the residents of Alderley Edge need a strong voice on CEC to ensure that AE is not over looked by the council, a strong conservative voice is needed to secure AE it's fair share of funding,
Have you stood for election before? If so when and for which party?
Many years ago in the 1980's in fact I stood as a candidate for the Liberal Party
What do you consider to be the important issues facing Alderley Edge?
Issues facing Alderley Edge are the continued parking issues, there needs to be a full and frank discussion with residents to hear their ideas as opposed to a preselected choice, planning issues especially potential housing developments, I would like to restart meetings with Chairs / Deputies of neighbouring Parish Councils [as happened during the previous Parish Council] to discuss common problems.
What do you hope to achieve and how in the next 4 years?
I would hope to secure better Cheshire East Council investment in Alderley Edge over the next 4 years, ensuring that our voice is heard when competing for resources, high level representation within Cheshire East Council.
What experience and personal qualities will you bring to the role?
I have extensive experience in dealing with the Public Sector having previously been a non executive director in the NHS, 22 years experience as a magistrate, 20+ years as a Trustee of Citizens Advice and other work for charities. I have energy, enthusiasm and a willingness to get things done.
Why should Alderley Edge residents vote for you?
I hope residents of Alderley Edge will see a conservative who is all about them, not about me. I'm putting them at the heart of things not any personal ambition.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Frankly, we've been much better off without him.
Paul Brearley or today's local Conservatives?
You'll next be telling us that voters should not vote for today's Labour Party as they were once Blairites!
Better to take as you find rather than hark backwards?
I find the current Conservative Cheshire East Council completely inept - to the point of embarrassment.
But it's not only me; Private Eye magazine has pretty much filled recent "Rotten Boroughs" columns with stories of the shenanigans at Cheshire East Council.
We've had CoSocious, CoreFit, falsification of air quality information, Lyme Green, hasty resignations, Police enquiries and ongoing investigations costing local taxpayers millions.
It really is time to drain the swamp and bring in more, conscience-led councillors like Craig Browne who are working for their electorate and not their party.
I did appreciate your Frank admission about the "hubris" of the last lot though - better late than never.
you are 'on about' Cheshire East; fair enough, but I repeat that our Candidate has nought to do with C.E. prevously. So again, why do you try to 'tar all with the same brush'?
How about the election for the Parish Council? No attacks there ?
The last 3 P.C. elections, before the A.E. 1st take-over were 9 out of 9 Conservatives, which you did not care for? But in all those P.C. elections. no-one bothered to stand against the Conservatives and no matter how some try to twist that, I am sure that you are fair minded enough to accept that it meant that most people were happy enough with the Conservative P'C.?
As for the last elections to Cheshire East (and/or its former incarnations) before A.E. 1st won, the only one to stand against (and lose to)the Conservative candidate was the Lib. Dem. Did he stand and lose two times?
I would clearly like the Conservative and the Independent candidates to be elected, as that would mean a greater diversity of opinions in the P.C.
As you will be aware, Paul Brierley is standing for both Parish Council and CE Council.
In my humble opinion, and for the reasons I’ve stated above, the last thing we need is another Conservative following orders on CE Council.
Like you, I have tended to vote Conservative in General Elections- unlike you my vote is not “automatic” and is carefully considered.
I cannot ignore the damage done to the local area by a wholly incompetent shambles of a CE Council and the addition of a further Conservative vote on
that council would not enhance it in any way, shape or form.
I did once vote Labour; but I was young then !
One reason I'll vote Conservative at the next General Election is I'm not attracted to a once-fine party now 'led' by anti-semitic Marxists.
In my quaint, old-fashioned way I try to vote for the person rather than just the Party; which is why for example, I voted for the adoption of Esther McVey as our Parliamentary candidate (a while back), rather than the expected candidate.
We are fortunate in our present election candidate (Paul) who is a good chap; who has no intention of being 'a further Conservative'.
I've read the election addresses on this 'organ' but alas I've not received anything through my door (am I persona non grata to AE1st or is AE1st short of delivery people?).
To end with: roll on the MEP elections, so that the people can make it even clearer to the major parties that we don't think much of them!
All sorts of notices are put up on it; quite right too.
Yesterday I put up a small 'Vote Conservative' leaflet; next to the permanent brochure for our C.E. councillor.
By this morning the Conservative leaflet had been torn down.
Says something about the unpleasant side of local politics?
I have queried this with CE along with the question of if a Parish clerk can stand in another PC elections.
Also if this is allowed will Paul stand on both councils if successfully elected ?
I'd like to wish the best of luck to Craig Browne and all the Alderley Edge First councillors tomorrow. Thank you all for your very hard work over the last few years, for operating transparently and for being extremely quick to respond to residents' concerns (and care about them). I sincerely hope you are all re-elected.
A disgruntled Conservative Councillor from Wilmslow East went out with a tape measure and estimated that the placards were about one centimetre too close to the public highway.
The very next day, a hit squad was despatched in a pick-up truck from the Highways Dept and the signs were unceremoniously taken down.
Bear in mind that this all happened at a time when you had to book the Highways Dept. about 6 months in advance to fix a streetlight bulb and you'll understand that, as Duncan points out, local politricks is indeed a mucky business!