Paul Johns is your Conservative spokesman for Upton West and a candidate in the Purbeck District Elections on May 1, 2008. Below, Paul introduces himself:
The 1st May elections are for you to elect your representative on Purbeck District Council who will work for you and all residents in Lytchett Minster and Upton. Having been your Purbeck District Councillor for nine years and Town Councillor for thirteen years, I have worked diligently to keep council costs down, to improve our Council services, and to protect and enhance our environment. Many residents have brought their problems to me and I have always done my very best to resolve them.
I have lived in and around Upton since I was a boy and am committed to this area. I have been married to Thelma for over forty years and all three of our children attended local schools. In business, I was a Projects Manager for Davy McKee, a large international company, and was responsible for supplying major engineering plant all over the world - for which we gained the Queen’s Award to industry. When I took early retirement, I decided to dedicate myself to the support of our community and I now spend most of my time doing just that.
I am the adopted Conservative candidate in this election and I promise that, if elected, I will continue to work for you and all of our residents to the best of my ability. I am heavily involved in many important aspects of the Council’s work, including: reducing Council costs (despite extra bureaucratic tasks being forced upon us by this government), improving our environment with the clearing of litter, fly tipping and graffiti, improving our services and facilities, and endeavouring to halt or control the massive overdevelopment being forced on us by central government.
I would greatly value your support on 1st May. If elected I pledge to be wholehearted in my continued efforts on your behalf, all year and every year. Please see some of my actions and objectives below.
My main actions and aims:
- Opposing Large Development around Lytchett and Upton.
- Controlling Council spending to minimise council tax rises, working for fairer Government funding.
- My proposal made Purbeck Council debt free and the interest on our investments helps to control council tax rises.
- Involved in decision making for Lytchett Minster School rebuild.
- Met with Police Chief Superintendents to obtain best policing for us - resulted in proposal for police office in Upton.
- Involved in £60,000 Grant for new Upton youth facilities.
- Improving waste and recycling services - member of Dorset Waste Management Panel.
- Chairman of Youth Club and Adult Chair of Youth United.
- Trustee for Community Centre and the Rugby Club (Lytchett Minster Sports Community Trust) and helped obtain grant funding for the club.
- Assisted in obtaining £10,000 funding for Scout Hut.
- Better planning decisions, reducing over development within Government limits.
- Working for better bus services, obtained "Dial a Bus" and tried to save our bank.
- Proposed transfer of council housing to a housing trust, which brought better Government funding for maintenance of the homes.
- And: - Better share of Purbeck spending, Cycle Route improvements, reducing speeding and more Speed Indicator Displays, reduced school parking problems, Junior School and Walk to School initiative, continual clearance of litter, fly tipping and graffiti, better highway maintenance, less highway weeds, road sweeping, reducing flooding and so much more.
