EDITOR'S CHOICE RAFT RACE SUCCESS Speedy Sealine crews take race glory ‘Treasures’ bring £292 boost Award winners go ‘the extra mile’ REGENERATING KIDDERMINSTER A town that means business Call for cash to clean up town HARRIERS LATEST Ferrell set to commit Fans played on Aggborough's hallowed turf Ferrell - Follow Bulls' path to promotion SPORT LATEST Frisbee stars earn international call-ups Red-hot Brown sets standard Record partnership lifts Mortimer LETTERS Breaking promise over town schools Minbus parking is safety issue Tree likely to be a danger Cricket club need helping hand LAST WEEK'S POLL RESULT Online poll: Safety first VOTE In a bid to cut congestion on roads, Nottingham City Council is introducing an annual fee for businesses providing staff car parking spaces. Do you think this is a good idea? Yes No GET OUR NEWS BY E-MAIL Just register

Most read Comments 1 Frisbee stars earn international call-ups 2 Shuttle phones working again 3 Shuttle phones out of order 4 Village church to be demolished 5 Moonlight magic through the forest 6 Ferrell - Follow Bulls' path to promotion 7 Double trouble to test KVCC 8 Fans played on Aggborough's hallowed turf 9 Mourners remember 'beautiful' Emily 10 Tesco air pollution evidence rejected Today | 7 Days 1 More help from freemasons 2 Pothole ‘victim’ makes list of defective roads 3 Learners facing longer journeys 4 ‘We won’t pay parking fines’ 5 New Tesco store reconsidered 6 KIDDERMINSTER - BE PART OF IT 7 Tesco air pollution evidence rejected 8 Never again 9 Shortcut speeders put lives at risk 10 No problem if all parked correctly

Comment | Read Comments (1)

Disappointed: Former district councillor, John Simmonds, with his dog Ben at his home in Rock.

TWO stalwarts of the Wyre Forest community lost their seats in last week's district council elections.

John Simmonds, a councillor in Rock for 35 years and Louise Edginton, first elected a Bewdley councillor in 1976, were the only two Independents on the authority.

Mr Simmonds, 77, a former council chairman, said the recent elections marked the end of an era, with national trends increasingly sidelining local concerns in district elections.

He said: "I was disappointed by the result. Being a councillor was a great part of my life and I was proud and keen to represent Rock."

He added: "Everything has to come to an end. I don't know whether I will stand again in the future. It's a long way away."

He explained: "I felt like I was fighting the whole Conservative party and not a person. It was a kneejerk reaction against the Government that did the damage."

Mr Simmonds said, as an Independent, he had to do all his canvassing himself or with a few "faithful helpers", while the Conservatives had resources he could never match.

He explained local elections should be about local concerns and local people and that politics at district level were "unnecessary".

He added: "I am very sad that both the Independents are now gone. Independents are very important in helping to keep the council balanced."

Mr Simmonds said he would "soldier on" and had many interests to keep himself busy. He would also continue to serve Rock as a parish councillor.

Louise Edginton said she had expected to lose her seat because of widespread unhappiness with the Government.

She added: "I'm very proud to serve Bewdley and I hope the town is proud of me. I love Bewdley and the people of Bewdley and I will continue as a town councillor."

She explained: "It's a terrible shame there are now no Independents in the council. In local government you should be free to say what you like and vote as you like."

She added: "But you just have to take things in your stride and bounce back again. I have a happy personality and I don't let things get me down."

8:26am Thursday 8th May 2008

Print

Email this

Comment