Meet the candidates in the West Park ward for the South Tyneside Council local elections

Each one will be given the opportunity to tell readers why they are standing and why people should vote for them.

Today it is the turn of candidates in the West Park ward.

ROBERT ATKINSON (INDEPENDENT)

Dear Voter,

Why vote for me? looking at the other candidates’ pamphlets we all seemingly want the same things,

The best for the people of South Tyneside.

We have had over 80 years of Labour domination yet a lot of people complain about this seemingly closed shop but tend to let things go?

This is your chance to change the status quo!

I am totally independent of all mainstream parties!

If elected, the electorate will be my master not some party leader!

I am local born and bred, let me be your voice!

I will tell you what they won’t.

NORMAN DICK (LABOUR)

I’m a family man with a grown-up family.

I worked as a miner in Harton Colliery, before serving 10 years in the armed forces, involving travel and combat in many countries, returning to the mining industry as a machine operator at Westoe Colliery.

I was an instructor in the Army Cadet force for six years and am at present an active member of the DLI. Association in South Shields.

A Labour Party member for many years, I was first elected to represent the people of West Park in 2014.

I serve on several local school governing bodies.

THOMAS MOWER (GREEN)

I believe people of all ages and from all backgrounds deserve access to nature, whether visiting our local park, growing your own vegetables, or strolling along the beach.

Time spent in a natural environment can improve our mental health, improve our social connections, and increase our awareness of the environment.

The Green Party truly values basic requirements such as these.

A vote for the Green Party is a vote for societal and political reform, putting what really matters – social and economic equality, physically and mentally healthy citizens, and sustainable living – at the forefront of political decision making.

ANTHONY SAYER (LIBERAL DEMOCRATS)

Anthony is a mature student studying chemistry and has lived in South Shields for all of his life – and the majority of that has been in the ward he’s standing as a candidate in.

He is sick of South Tyneside councillors not being held to account and not listening to residents.

He wants to see increased waste bin collections, cleaner streets and a reduction in the number of councillors to save on allowances.

He strongly believes in the preamble to the Liberal Democrat constitution, which states that Liberal Democrats exist to build a society in which no one is enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity.

JOHN STANTON (CONSERVATIVE)

Hello. My name is John Stanton and I live beside the river at Coble Landing.

I’m a South Shields Geordie lad born and bred.

Apart from being retired, I’m a writer and published author.

I’m also a trustee for the National Victims Association, which cares for the bereaved due to murder or manslaughter.

For saving the lives of two children, who were drowning, I was awarded from our Queen, the Royal Humane Testimonial on vellum.

I ask for your vote to become your councillor, with the aim of helping to make our town an even better place to live.

Chris Binding, Local Democracy Reporter.