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Meet the Owlsmoor by-election candidates

By Mike Pyle
February 17, 2010

Political rivals are getting set to go head to head at a by-election next week.

Six politicians have their eyes on seats on Bracknell Forest Council and Sandhurst Town Council which became vacant following the death of Councillor Ray Simonds in December last year.

Tributes paid to Cllr Ray Simonds

Members of the Conservative Party, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and the UK Independence Party (UKIP) have entered into the elections on Thursday, February 25 – one for the Owlsmoor seat on Bracknell Forest Council and another for the Owlsmoor seat on Sandhurst Town Council.

Among them are a pigeon-racing bumblebee enthusiast, a former Scout leader and a 19-year-old student who wants to become one of the youngest politicians to sit on a borough council.

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Norman Bowers (Conservative)
Peter Forbes (Green Party)
Guy Gillbe (Labour)
Mark Thompson (Liberal Democrats)
Ian Simmons (UKIP)
Philip Wallington (Conservative)

The candidates contesting the Owlsmoor seat on Bracknell Forest Borough Council are:

Norman Bowers (Conservative)

Norman is one of just two election candidates to live in the contested ward. The 71-year-old has lived in Owlsmoor since 1974 and has been a Sandhurst town councillor since 1979.

Norman, who lives with his wife Margaret, said: “I’ve been tempted to run for the borough council seat before but the four-year term always seemed like a long time.

“Because the council elections are due next year this will only be a one-year term and I would be able to see how I get on.

“I think the area we live in is very good at any rate and I want to work to maintain that standard.”

Peter Forbes (Green Party)

Peter, 51, says he has a “typical Right-wing background” having been in the Royal Navy for several years followed by a lengthy stint in middle management, but is representing the Green Party in the by-election

Peter is married and has two children – Louise, 21, and Stuart, 20.

He lives in Wellington Road, which is outside Owlsmoor, but his wife Belinda worked in Owlsmoor School and his children went to Sandhurst School.

Peter said: “I spent five years fighting for Queen and country, 20 years fighting to put food on the table and now I fancy spending some time fighting for the planet.

“The Green Party can be seen as being a bit extreme but I want to see what I can contribute by gently leading issues in the right direction. Even with things like planning, to make sure houses are built with enough insulation and that cycleways are provided.”

Guy Gillbe (Labour)

At just 19 Guy would become one of the youngest borough councillors in the country if he wins the seat.

Guy lives in St Michaels Road, which is in Sandhurst but not in Owlsmoor, and spends term time at Royal Holloway University where he is studying history and politics.

He says neither his age nor the fact that he spends a lot of time away from the area would hinder him should he win the vote.

He said: “I’ve been a resident of Sandhurst for some time now – I’ve lived here since I was 10 and before that I lived in Finchampstead so I know the area, and at Royal Holloway I’m so close to Sandhurst it’s only a quick drive or a couple of stops on the train.”

The former Bearwood College student says, if elected, he would try to improve provisions for winter weather and push for more to be made available for youths to do.

Mark Thompson (Liberal Democrats)

Mark, 35, runs his own company which promotes energy efficiency in buildings, and lives with his wife in Alford Close.

He said: “I think one of the issues we have round here is the dominance of one party in local government.

“The Conservatives have 39 out of 42 seats on the borough council and Sandhurst Town Council is all Conservative.

“We need more voices in the council just on principle to make sure the council is being held to account – at the moment they don’t have to listen to any opposition voices.”

Mark does not live in Owlsmoor but has lived in Sandhurst for the last six years and before that he lived in Crowthorne.

The candidates contesting the Owlsmoor seat on Sandhurst Town Council are:

- Peter Forbes (Green)

- Guy Gillbe (Labour)

- Mark Thompson (Liberal Democrats)

Ian Simmons (UKIP)

HGV-driver Ian, 51, has lived in Sandhurst for 50 years and went to Owlsmoor Comprehensive School before it became Sandhurst School.

He said: “I can remember when College Road was just a dirt track with a load of potholes. Now it’s a road with a load of potholes.”

He is also a keen pigeon racer and cares about bumblebee preservation.

Ian, who is married with two children, represents UKIP, which is the UK’s fourth biggest political party, and wants the complete withdrawal of Britain from Europe.

Ian, of Branksome Hill Road, said: “I’m fed up with the way we’re being run by the EU.

“If we can start out at a local level and grow from there we will be able to make real changes.”

He also said he would target careless parking and speeding in the area if he is elected.

Philip Wallington (Conservative)

As Norman Bowers is already a town councillor the Conservatives have entered a different candidate to run for the seat on the town council.

Philip Wallington, of Acacia Avenue, is the second candidate who lives in the contested ward.

He runs a financial services business and is married with grown-up children and four grandchildren.

Backing him for the seat on the town council is fellow town councillor, and long-standing borough councillor, David Worrall.

Cllr Worrall said: “He knows and lives in the area and I think that is very important because you get to know the community and get a feel for what people want.

“In the past Owlsmoor was part of Crowthorne – even in my early days as a councillor for the ward I was on Crowthorne Parish Council.

“It’s not just a part of Sandhurst, although it has expanded massively, it is still it’s own community.”

He is also a regular at St George’s Parish Church in Owlsmoor Road and a member of the National Trust.

The polling station for the by-election is Owlsmoor Community Centre in Yeovil Road and polling hours will be 7am to 10pm on Thursday, February 25.

Polling cards should have been delivered to those eligible to vote at the end of January.

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Is it not time that we had some younger people at the council? 71 May not be that old, but we already have plenty of that age group. 50 - Well OK a bit younger. I don't want do seem ageist, but a representive selection might be nice. As it happens, Mark Thompson (35) is the only one that I have ever heard about. (on Blogs) The oldies in the election probably don't even know what modern things like the internet are. It might be nice for the 19 yeal old to get in, but I read on a blog that he is at university, and wouldnot be in the area much for the next year. I am not a voter in that area, but if I was I know who I would vote for.