Alongside the Dorset Council elections on Thursday 2nd May 2024, many communities in Rural Dorset will also have contested elections for seats on their town or parish council.
Here are details of Green Party candidates standing in town council elections in Dorset on 2nd May 2024 - in Bridport, Dorchester, Lyme Regis, Portland and Weymouth.
Allington & West Bridport: Julian Jones
After two terms as a town councillor I’m standing again to keep up the pressure for progressive environmental and social policies locally.
I will press for Dorset Council to build one and two bed council flats above the town centre car parks with rents no more than 50% of open market levels, incorporating excellent insulation, heat pumps and solar panels wherever practical.
Bothenhampton & Walditch: Isabel Bourne
I live in Bothenhampton with my husband and two young children. My career has been spent encouraging, advising and raising investment for large organisations to adapt their operations to have a lower impact on the environment. I’m standing for election as Town Councillor to ensure our ward is fully considered in the new Town Council’s work.
I would love to use this experience to support the Town Council with many of its ambitions such as the realisation of the Bridport Investment and Climate Emergency Action Plans.
I’m particularly interested in pursuing existing projects to make walking or cycling into town safer and easier. For example, improving the pedestrian crossings along the A35. My career has been spent encouraging, advising and raising investment for large organisations to adapt their operations to have a lower impact on the environment.
Bradpole: Rob Casey
I have 20 years of experience working in education and have held a number of leadership and management roles, alongside local volunteering, especially in the arts and as a former Chair of Bradpole’s village hall. I am passionate about improving life chances for all, as well as creating a fairer society for future generations by tackling inequality and promoting more sustainable living. This is why I am keen to serve again and help my community to thrive.
Central Bridport: Kelvin Clayton
Before entering politics, I served as a firefighter for 17 years, and then retrained to become a careers adviser.
I was first elected onto the town council in 2015. I look forward to continue working well together with town councillors of all political stripes.
West Bay: Richard Edwards
I have lived in this area for over 20 years. You may recognise me from working in the Co-op for many years! I also made and sold local apple juice and am now self-employed as a gardener.
It would be an honour to be elected as a town councillor and I would work hard for the residents of West Bay and Bridport.
Dorchester East: Poppy Farmer
Poppy has lived in this part of Dorchester for over 10 years. She loves where she lives and would be honoured to represent this area on the town council.
Poppy is capable and hard working. She recently finished a course in equine management at Kingston Maurward College.
These are her aims if elected:
Having some alternative voices on the Town Council to provide constructive views, and hold the Liberal Democrats to account, is really important for democracy. A one-party state never serves any area well.
You get to vote for five candidates in the Dorchester Town Council election. Please give one of your five votes to Poppy Farmer from the Green Party.
Green candidates Belinda Bawden and Stuart Cockerell have already been declared elected, as the number of candidates nominated for the council did not exceed the number of seats available.
Underhill: Kia Pope
Melcombe Regis: Jon Orrell
A local doctor, in the past looking after patients, now looking after the town and planet. Weymouth is a flood zone. We must take climate chaos and sea level rise seriously. Clean air, pure water, active travel and natural foods are needed for individual health. They are needed for the planet's health.
Jon Orrell is also standing for re-election to Dorset Council in Melcombe Regis. View his full candidate page here.
Wyke South: Helen Toft
Incumbent councillor Helen says in the above video: "I'm standing for the local council because I think I have to give something back to Weymouth. I've lived here for over 30 years, and my children have grown up here, and I feel it's important to give back to the community - don't just take from it.
"As a Green town councillor, I'm very keen that we continue to address issues with regard to climate change, and to make sure that any decisions we make within the Town Council always think about the impact it's going to have on the climate. "But as well as that, we are also in a cost-of-living crisis. So we have to be making sure that we are giving value to money, to our council taxpayers.
"One of the most important issues locally in the last few years has been the planning permission that was applied for, for the incinerator on Portland. This would mean, if it went ahead, that we would have 80 lorries a day coming through Weymouth, carrying waste to be burnt and the plume of smoke would rise above Portland, or, depending upon the wind, it would blow over our beautiful bay. There has been a public inquiry and it is now with the Home Secretary, and we hope that he makes the right decision.
"I found, as a town councillor, how really important it is to listen to the views of local people and to try, whenever they ask for help, to put them in the right direction for that help if I can't help them directly. Also, I have learnt that it's necessary to work with other parties to come to agreement to move things forward.
"I have really enjoyed working for Weymouth Town Council for the last two years, and I would be really happy if you could vote for me on the 2nd May - so I can continue to do my best for local residents and help you resolve problems. Thank you."
