Garden Village Election Candidates Question and Answer

We here at Wrexham.com sent written letters to all 130 odd candidates in the local Wrexham Council elections this year, and here are the replies! If there is not a reply on here from a candidate, we didnt get one before the week of the 23rd April. If you are a candidate or voter reading this join in the debate or let us know what you think in our Wrexham Forums !

Garden Village (1 seat)
Wilson – Welsh Conservatives (no answer)
Craddock – Welsh Liberal Democrats (no answer)
Dodman – UKIP
Williams – Welsh Labour

Dodman – UK Independence Party:
1 – Which party do you align yourself with, and why? (Or if non aligned, why not?)

I am representing the United Kingdom Independence Party. I used to be a life long supporter of the Conservative Party then I realised I could not believe a word David Cameron said. He even broke the cast iron guarantee he gave in his election manifesto of a referendum on our continued membership of the European Union. If you cant rely on his cast iron guarantees, what can you rely on? He also peddles the man made Global Warming nonsense which is one of the greatest lies ever told.

2 – What will be your first personal priority or aim if you were elected?

I would use my skills as a qualified Chartered Accountant to thoroughly analyse Council Expenditure to see if I could cut waste and improve Council services.

3 – Why do you personally want to be a councillor when so often you just get blamed for problems beyond your control?

Politics is in my blood. My Grandfather William Dodman was a famous Mayor. If you look at the Council web site you will see they are very proud of him. Wrexham people have fond memories of Dodman’s shoe shop in Town Hill which he founded.

4 – Many politicians and local councillors are accused of bring out of touch with voters. What will you do to ensure you stay ‘in touch’?

I promise to have totally open lines of communication.

5 – How do you plan to tackle or prevent anti-social behaviour in your local area?

Pressure the Council and Police to adopt a zero tolerance approach to crime and anti-social behaviour.

6 – Do you think any local authority has the means to improve economic and job opportunities? And if you do, what do you think the priority actions should be?

Zero rates for small businesses to help them get established. Large companies like the big supermarkets are so profitable and have go so many advantages they should pay more to give the small ones a chance.

7 – What do you think has been the best decision taken by the council in the last four years?

The best decision the Council have made is to at least put in a the link road to the Wrexham Industrial Estate.

8 – What do you think has been the worst decision taken by the council in the last four years?

The worst decision was not to buy the Football Club. Both the Town and the Club would have benefited. The was a great opportunity lost. The council could have then made a profit from any sell off of land. Why did they let other people make money out of it?

9 – What is your favourite place to visit or favourite thing to do in the local area?

My favourite place to visit is the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

10 – If you had to pick your best memory connected to Wrexham, what would it be?

My best memory of Wrexham is when the Wrexham Industrial Estate was thriving. When Lorries were coming and going taking good all over Europe.

Williams – Welsh Labour:

1 – Which party do you align yourself with, and why? (Or if non aligned, why not?)

Labour Party due to backing of party and help from Lesley Griffiths and Ian Lucas.

2 – What will be your first personal priority or aim if you were elected?

I would thank each and every person in the village for entrusting me to represent them to make the village a better place. I have already carried out a lot of work in the Village as a Community Councillor and have many aims for the village as well as lots of ideas after speaking to residents during my doorstep visits. My exciting plans are now being prioritised ready to start implementation following the election.

3 – Why do you personally want to be a councillor when so often you just get blamed for problems beyond your control?

Firstly politics for me has to come second, the village, its people and its problems has to come first and I am passionate about the area. Some Councillors can become complacent and forget about the problems of the people who elected them in the first place. After asking my current Councillor for his thoughts on issues I had to improve the area and on receiving no response, decided this is not right and I could be a far more effective Councillor and serve the village better.

4 – Many politicians and local councillors are accused of bring out of touch with voters. What will you do to ensure you stay ‘in touch’?

I am younger than your average County Councillor but have the maturity to have a level head when sorting problems out.

I find it very easy to talk to people of all ages; I have clear modern ideas and listen to what all groups within the community would like for the village. I have built up a good reputation with residents within the community. I also sit as a school Governor, Community Councillor, Vice Chair of the Garden Village Youth Club these allow me to have an up to date views of my community as well as living in the village and being visible in the ward on a daily basis.

5 – How do you plan to tackle or prevent anti-social behaviour in your local area?

There are many ways to address this issue and for me it has to be a mixture of them all. Firstly for PCSO’s and police officers to continue to build relations with our younger members of the community, for the council to make better leisure and recreational facilities in the area for example the undeveloped ski slope project, this would bring new business to the area, create an outstanding facility for North Wales putting Wrexham on the map for the right reasons and open up opportunities to all ages groups to enjoy an outdoor sport.

6 – Do you think any local authority has the means to improve economic and job opportunities? And if you do, what do you think the priority actions should be?

I have sort of touched on this question in the previous answer, but this has to be NO they have the means but not the drive and enthusiasm to develop the area. You only have to walk from the football ground into town (a gateway into the area) you will pass a derelict tyre fitting building followed by the former scrap yard followed by a disused petrol station. It gets no better in the town centre with empty shop units. The old school opposite the police station has been left to decay with little thought for careful and sympathetic regeneration. The list of missed opportunities by the current council could continue on and on.

7 – What do you think has been the best decision taken by the council in the last four years?

It has to be the new Industrial Estate link roads although this has been on going for many years not just in the last four years.

8 – What do you think has been the worst decision taken by the council in the last four years?

Unwillingness to listen and act on people’s concerns about the area.

9 – What is your favourite place to visit or favourite thing to do in the local area?

I set up the Garden Village Farmers market almost twelve months ago its held in the grounds of St Margaret’s Church on the Chester Road on the first Saturday of every month. It promotes local food produce and artisan business. In the summer months the market is out doors on the grass and is set around a beautiful old vintage tractor. The atmosphere and community spirit is amazing. This is one of my favourite places to visit.

10 – If you had to pick your best memory connected to Wrexham, what would it be?

My best memory is during this election, I have never stood for election before and was surprised by the positive response and overwhelming support the vast amount of people are giving me whilst speaking to them around the village.