Burnham and Highbridge Conservatives have this week selected their two candidates to fight May’s County Council elections.
Incumbent councillors Peter Burridge-Clayton and John Woodman, pictured, have been chosen to stand for the Burnham North and Highbridge/Burnham South seats respectively.
The announcement follows a candidate selection event held at the weekend by Somerset Conservatives.
Cllr Woodman told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I am proud to have represented Highbridge and Burnham South during the last four years and am delighted to have the opportunity to stand again.”
“I want to continue our good work on keeping council tax rates low and reducing the debt of the previous administration. Locally, I am pleased to have negotiated the launch of an Enterprise Hub in Highbridge to help boost the local economy and also to be introducing a new pedestrian crossing outside Highbridge Medical Centre plus other improvements for the benefit of residents. I look forward to keeping up the work.”
And Cllr Peter Burridge-Clayton told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I have enjoyed representing the residents of Burnham North as a County Councillor over the past four years and hope I am elected again and given the opportunity to carry on the good work that our group have been doing at county hall, in addition to further developing my own work and contributions.”
“I have recently reached 25 years as a councillor in this ward and I look forward to representing residents for many years to come. I am pleased to say that all my pre-election pledges came to fruition, one of those being securing funding for the new pedestrian crossing that is due to be installed close to the RNIB Kathleen Chambers House on Burnham’s Berrow Road in May. This will be a great benefit for all the residents in the area.”
He added: “I feel that one of the important issues will be to continue to reduce the £348m debt left by the previous Liberal Democrat administration. During the past four years we have not borrowed and have managed to pay back £15m off that debt. £100,000 a day in interest payments was an unforgivable thing to inflict on the people of Somerset. All the Conservative candidates are committed to ensuring sound financial management of the council in order to build a better Somerset for future generations.”
The news follows recent announcements by the Liberal Democrats about their two candidates – Helen Groves has been selected to stand in Highbridge and Burnham South, while Tom Nicholls is standing in Burnham North.
Th County Council elections will be held on May 2nd across the Burnham-On-Sea area. Residents must appear on the Register of Electors in order to vote and the last date for applications is April 17th – further details are available here.
