Edgmond and Ercall Magna ward candidates

Six candidates, two seats available.

Some candidates who belong to the same party chose to submit a combined manifesto.

Stephen Bentley and Stephen Burrell (incumbents), Conservative

When Edgmond and Ercall Magna were brought together in 2015, it became the largest ward in the borough. There are six parish councils and two parish meetings and whilst we try to ensure one of us attends all meetings, we are grateful to the clerks and local councillors for all their help. Our ward covers over 60% of the borough’s total rural area yet funding remains limited, a matter we campaign over on a daily basis. We represented many of you when a local bus service was withdrawn. Access to work, medical appointments, leisure and shopping is vital and we negotiated a unique scheme direct with Arriva to bring that essential service back. We are now working to amend the timetable to support residents with bus passes.

Communication is a key strength – we are always about and have very regular contact with residents, Telford and Wrekin Council officers, other agencies and each other. We have successfully represented many individual residents, attending meetings not only with the borough council but with organisations such as the police, NFU, social landlords, the NHS, FutureFit and many others. We have battled and, if re-elected, will continue to battle on planning and development matters, fighting indiscriminate or opportunistic applications, while supporting those that benefit the locality. As longstanding ward residents ourselves, we understand your needs and aspirations, support the work of parish councils, schools, community groups and organisations and promise to continue to do so to the very best of our ability.

Derek Gorse and Bill McClements, Labour

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Edgmond and Ercall Magna and our rural communities deserve councillors who will secure investment and support residents. With Labour councillors on your side we can achieve so much more together.

We’re proud of what Labour has achieved for our borough. I know we can do so much more. With your support:

• We will continue to fight the closure of our 24/7 A&E and consultant-led Women’s and Children’s Centre.

• We will continue to keep Council Tax amongst the lowest in the Midlands.

• We will continue to invest £80million per year in protecting the most vulnerable adults and children in our community including those who are victims and survivors of sexual exploitation and domestic abuse.

• We will invest £50million in roads and footpaths across Telford and Wrekin and continue to invest in creating new jobs for residents.

• We will fight the threat of a merger between Telford and Wrekin Council and Conservative-run Shropshire council, ensuring taxpayers’ money is not wasted on Shropshire’s debt.

On Thursday, May 2, vote Labour to protect, care and invest in the place we call home.

Mark Wiggin, Liberal Democrat

Married to Sally, Mark Wiggin is employed as a support worker for young adults with learning disabilities in Shrewsbury, assisting those with special needs to participate fully in the community.

He is a retired police officer, having served over 21 years with South Staffordshire Police, much of this time as a family liaison officer.

Before joining the police, Mark was a councillor on Newport Town Council, and became Deputy Mayor before starting his career as a police officer.

Prior to that, Mark was a self-employed dairy farmer on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border. Mark has been a school governor at Adams Grammar School, and also Newport Junior School, where he became chair of governors. He is a trustee of Newport’s community hall, Cosy Hall.

Mark has a great deal of experience in providing assistance and advice to vulnerable people and he understands and appreciates the stresses and difficulties often faced by people and their communities who live in rural areas. If elected, Mark will press for Telford and Wrekin Council to ensure that those living away from urban centres can be sure that rural areas are properly policed, and that they have full access to all the services provided by the borough such as education and social services.

Sally Wiggin, Liberal Democrat

I am a retired primary school teacher. I was a Wrekin District Councillor representing Newport East for 10 years as well as being a teacher employed by Shropshire County Council. However, I had to stand down when Telford and Wrekin became a unitary authority. Telford and Wrekin took over responsibility for education, and became my employer; therefore I was not eligible to stand as a borough councillor. So, instead, I stood for Newport Town Council where I was a councillor for some years and served a year as Mayor. It was a privilege to represent my community.

I continue to volunteer in the community with local groups and charities both as a trustee and as a ‘hands on’ helper. I am delighted to be standing as a candidate for the Liberal Democrats and if elected will do my best to work hard for the people of Edgmond and Ercall Magna. Liberal Democrats believe we have to invest in Telford and Wrekin to improve local services and make it a better place to live for all. We are proud of our voting record to support the economic growth of our borough. We will continue to work cross-party to ensure pragmatic and sensible decisions are made that put residents, not party politics, first.