Norwich Liberal Democrats Online

CANDIDATES FOR THE 2011 NORWICH CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Haydn Perrett (Bowthorpe) - I have lived in Norwich for thirty years and run my own business. I know the city and the issues well. My top priorities include pressing the Council to improve the basic services people receive from City Hall. I really believe that Labour has let down the residents of Bowthrope and it is time for real change.

I am very keen to support local businesses if elected. The Liberal Democrats in Norwich have policies to support local enterprise including setting up a Business Improvement District where local businesses work together to support improvement and investment. We also want to use office space at City Hall for new start-up businesses and encourage council tenants to set-up suitable businesses from their own homes. Small businesses are the life-blood of the economy and in these difficult economic times it is vital that the council does everything it can to help them.

Chris Thomas (Catton Grove) - I joined the Liberal Party in 1980 and was a City Councillor between 1992 and 2007. I work as a Customer Advisor in Barclays Bank in Norwich and live on Drayton Road. In my spare time I enjoy many hobbies, including organising the Norwich Beer Festival.

I am standing because I feel local residents are being let down by the City Council. The government's 2009 'One Place' assessment rated Labour-run Norwich City Council as the worst performing council in Norfolk. In Catton Grove I can really see on a day-to-day basis how local residents have been neglected by Labour. This poor provision of service and the problems over the Connaught contract have motivated me to stand and offer an alternative to Labour incompetence at City Hall. Norwich residents deserve better and I think the Liberal Democrats can offer them a better alternative and will push forward improvements in the City.

Alex Findlow (Crome) - I live in Norwich and work in IT / Telecommunications. I am married and have two young children. I was a Liberal Democrat Councillor in the City between 1992 and 1996 and also a school governor. I joined the party in 1981 and I am standing because I feel that we have the right policies for Norwich residents.

If elected, I will work to implement the Liberal Democrats 'Six to Fix' manifesto for Norwich. We are aiming to cut £2million of wasteful spending at City Hall on things like communications and senior management pay; make the Council more open and efficient and find out what really happened with the Connaught collapse; tackle Norwich's 9,000 social housing waiting list; give residents a better deal on tax by supporting a council tax freeze; make the city's streets safer by opposing the street light switch-offs; and give more support to local business and enterprise.

Caroline Ackroyd (Eaton) - I was born and educated in Norwich until university when I moved to Cardiff. Having completed my PGCE in Nottingham I moved back to Norwich to begin teaching at the former Northfields First School. Thirty-eight years later, I am still teaching in Norwich although now part-time. My particular enthusiasm in education for over twenty years has been and remains the role of IT in enriching the curriculum and enhancing life outcomes for pupils.

When my own children were small I was active in setting up local community activities such as play schemes and after school provision. I am currently involved in a housing organisation which offers temporary self-contained accommodation in conjunction with a support package to lone parent families in times of need. I feel very privileged to have been offered the opportunity to stand as Liberal Democrat candidate in Eaton where I live and, if elected, I look forward to working with the rest of the local team.

Helen Whitworth (Lakenham) - I live in Norwich and work as a health care assistant. I have two grown up children. I am an experienced campaigner and have served as a local district and county councillor. This means that I know how the system works and I know how to get things done. I would be a strong voice for local people in Lakenham and Tuckswood.

I have worked closely with Lakenham's Liberal Democrat councillors and with our local MP Simon Wright. I joined with residents to campaign hard against the inappropriate plans for the development of the Lakenham Sports and leisure ground site and have campaigned on local housing and transport issues in the ward. I am also a strong supporter of the 'Yes To AV' campaign. This referendum offers Norwich residents a real chance to change the voting system and make MPs have to work harder to win our votes.

Simon Nobbs (Mancroft) - I work as an accountant in the City. I have also been working for the community in Mancroft for many years. I am a former councillor for our area and I would consider it a real honour to be chosen by local residents to continue my work for our area on the City Council.

Some of my main priorities for Mancroft include: ensuring that the Council is active in dealing with anti-social behaviour; supporting more youth facilities and campaigning to retain our green spaces for the community's benefit. With major new developments coming through we need to make sure that plans are sustainable and improve the quality of the environment for all residents. I know that Labour have failed Norwich with their mismanagement of the Council's housing department, and failed Britain with the public debt they built up. It is now time for change.

Carl Mayhew (Mile Cross) - I live in Mile Cross with my partner Mary and I represented the ward as a City Councillor until 2008. I was born and brought up in the area and through my experience as a councillor and campaigner I have an excellent knowledge of the local issues. I currently work for the Jobcentre in the City Centre and in my free time I enjoy playing and watching sport and going to the cinema.

As a local resident, I was appalled by Labour's Greyhound Opening homes-for-staff scandal, their closure of the Cashiers' Service at City Hall, and the collapse of Connaught. Housing is a central issue in Mile Cross. Local residents deserve more than a zero rated housing department and a housing waiting list of over 9,000. If elected, improving this service will be one of my key priorities. The Labour council has let us down for too long.

Kate Atkins (Nelson) - Having lived in Norwich all of my life, I am proud to be involved with the Liberal Democrats and to have the opportunity to represent Nelson ward where I live with my husband James.

I studied Archaeology at UCL before returning to Norwich to complete a Masters and PGCE at UEA, and now work as an Assistant Headteacher at a Junior School in Great Yarmouth. I recognise how important a good start is for our young people and welcome initiatives such as the Pupil Premium. For the last couple of years I have been a member of the Norwich Dragons Hockey Club, am a regular swimmer and enjoy working in our garden growing vegetables. If elected I look forward to supporting the work of Simon Wright MP and the other local Liberal Democrat councillors.

Ian Williams (Sewell) - I have lived in the Sewell Ward for the past 21 years. I work for St Christopher's Coach, a charity, which helps elderly and disabled people have day trips on a specially adapted bus. I am also a Sewell Park College Governor and do voluntary work for Magdalen Gates School. I am married to Niki with two children aged 12 & 9.

Sewell has varied communities with differing needs. If elected, I will press for the preservation of our community assets: local pubs, post offices, school playing fields and parks. I am an experienced former City Councillor and understand the way the Council operates. People in Sewell, as elsewhere, have had more than their fair share of tax burdens - council tax rise after council tax rise from Labour. I will be a strong voice for the area and promise to stand-up to the high-tax low-performance Labour Council.

Jeremy Hooke (Thorpe Hamlet) - I was elected to Norwich City Council in 2006 and represent the Thorpe Hamlet ward where I live. For the past 20 years I have worked as an independent financial adviser and have clients in Norwich and London. I work tirelessly with local businesses in the city, including giving special support to start-up businesses. I am an executive member of the Norwich and Norfolk Racial Equality Council and have been involved with Coast to County Hospital Radio, a charity in north Norfolk, for over 20 years, and have been the chairman for the last 10.

I have varied interests ranging from being a percussionist with local orchestras and playing the piano, to reporting on the Eurovision Song Contest for local radio. I have travelled all over Europe to attend the contest for the last 17 years. I am a member of the council's twinning committee and served as Lord Mayor in 2008/09.

Mark Johnston (Town Close) -I am a Science Graduate from UEA. I live in Town Close and since graduating I have gained experience as a Learning Support Assistant and at the Inspire Discovery Centre in Norwich. I have a particular interest in scientific, educational and environmental issues. I hope to build on the success of Simon Wright MP and become a hard-working and committed local representative for Town Close.

I was inspired to stand for election for the Liberal Democrats because they have the best environmental policies. It is a realistic green agenda that can deliver real results for Norwich, including a cycle-hire scheme. The Lib Dems have already pushed to reduce energy consumption at City Hall and led the initiative for Norwich to be a 'Fair Trade' City. If elected, I hope to build on this track record of success and help ensure that, in the current economic climate, green issues are not marginalized.

Andrew Wright (University) - A long-term Norwich City season ticket holder, I have lived in Norwich for almost all my life, more than 30 years in University Ward. Having left The City of Norwich School at the age of sixteen I worked for accountants and solicitors before retiring from full-time employment to develop my interest in audio-visual production and event support, through which I have assisted local not-for-profit organisations and individuals starting new careers.

I have a strong interest in social housing and for 15 years have served as Treasurer on the Board of Umbrella Housing Group, which provides supported housing in Norwich. Through this involvement I am faced every day with the problems caused through the shortage of good rentable housing, and housing costs exacerbated by people with more than one "home" driving up costs.

Katharine Riviere (Wensum) - Born in Norwich I was educated in Blakeney, Riddlesworth and at Norwich High School before studying at Newcastle University and, later, UEA, where I obtained my PGCE. For twelve years I was a British Army wife, based in Germany and the UK, and during this time ran a playgroup.

I teach a Reception class at Nelson Infant School, where I have been for the past eight years. This follows my passionate interest in the needs of young children and to develop this further I am working on a course about Special Educational Needs at present. In my spare time I try to find as much time as possible to follow my interests in gardening and watercolour painting.