In the run up to the Stroud District Council elections on May 5, the SNJ will be profiling each of the candidates standing in all 27 wards.

Each party candidate will give voters information about who they are, what their pledges are and why you should vote for them.

These profiles will be posted alphabetically by ward over the next week.

Today we feature Cam East, Cam West, Chalford, Coaley and Uley, Dursley and Hardwicke.

Yesterday we had Amberley and Woodchester, Berkeley Vale, Bisley and Cainscross.

Stay posted throughout the week to see your candidates go head to head.

Dursley - There are eight candidates standing in this ward. Number of seats – three.

-----------------------

  • Doina Cornell - Labour

I’ve lived and worked in Dursley for 16 years, raising my kids here, running a business with my parents.

As your councillor, I’ve helped bring investment, jobs and new council housing via the Littlecombe regeneration and Dursley pool extension.

I worked with residents and the town council against unwanted housing and I played a part in bringing back youth services to Dursley. If re-elected I’ll continue to work on issues that affect local people, from parking to playgrounds.

I will continue to work to find solutions for issues that most affect local people – this is my number one priority.

----------------------

  • Colin Fryer - Labour

Colin has lived in Dursley all his life, working at Listers as a maintenance fitter for 38 years, and senior shop steward for most of that time, helping many employees, especially over the difficult times more recently.

He also served as JP for eight years. He believes we need to focus on getting jobs coming into the area or see the town dwindle into a dormitory town.

We’re also threatened with large, inappropriate housing development.

As district councilor, Colin has been part of a Labour-led council, creating create local jobs and apprenticeships, building new council houses, helping people affected by the cost of living crisis.

------------------------------

  • Alison Hayward - Labour

I have lived in Cam for more than a decade with my partner and two children.

I have worked in IT for various local companies and for the last two years I have been working for the NHS.

My children are currently attending local schools. When my children were younger I was a committee member for both a local play group and out of school club.

I play and coach for Dursley rugby club. I have a long standing interest in national and local politics, and if elected would look forward to representing the interests of local people.

------------------------

  • Brian Marsh – Liberal Democrats

I have a good record of serving my community and always putting Dursley first.

I am appalled that the current Conservative group have not only opposed the development of the swimming pool fitness suite but have called the expenditure “bizarre”. I am resolute that Dursley should gain a fair share from the income Stroud District Council has received from the Sainsbury’s development.

It is also important that the green spaces in our communities are protected from developers wishing to build more and more housing. I am a keen supporter of the local plan which calls for no further housing developments in Dursley beyond that already agreed for Littlecombe.

I am determined to improve the car parking facilities in Dursley so that we can encourage business and assist in the creation of more jobs.

I always seek good value for money both at council and in other organisations and genuinely believe we should be getting top class services for the Council Tax we pay.

You can be sure that I will work hard for and will truly represent our town. You can trust me to put Dursley first.

-------------------------------

  • Andrea Sheffield – Conservative

I have lived in Dursley for 45 years, I studied at Rednock School and then onto Hartpury College where I studied Equine Husbandry.

I have always worked locally, initially within the retail sector, I now work successfully as a Business Sales Account Manager.

I am passionate about the town of Dursley and its surrounding countryside, I am keen to see the regeneration of the town whilst ensuring that we protect and preserve our green spaces, keeping areas accessible, safe and clean for all to enjoy.

----------------------

  • Loraine Patrick – Conservative

I've lived in Dursley for 23 years, I'm passionate about our town and countryside.

Our town centre desperately needs regeneration, more parking, our green spaces and settlement boundary need protection from unnecessary development, and our street cleaning needs to be improved.

This year we all have three votes, you'll have the chance to vote for three people on the same team.

Myself, Andrea Sheffield and Trish Betteley, we are the team who will put Dursley and its people first, who will listen to your voice, who will work together to make our town a safer, cleaner, better place to live.

-----------------

  • Patricia Betteley – Conservative

The SNJ was not able to contact Mrs Betteley for a statement.

---------------------

  • Miriam Yagud - Green

The SNJ was not able to contact Mrs Yagud for a statement.