Voters will go to the polls on Thursday 4 May to elect their representatives on Tameside Council. Here's your guide to candidates standing in Denton and Droylsden, who were asked to tell us what they aim to do for the area.

Denton North East

John Bradley (Green)

I have lived in Tameside for most of my life and have always worked locally, within retail and travel.

I am standing again as a candidate to give the people of Denton North East the option to vote for a local, Green candidate.

I am frequently seen litter picking with my children. Greens prioritise striving for cleaner, safer and healthier places to live. With three votes this year, use one for the Greens!

As a Green Councillor I would work to support our established Green Councillor’s goal of reducing deadly Glyphosate and transforming grass verges into wildflowers. This would drastically cut maintenance costs while benefiting biodiversity and encouraging bees and butterflies.

I would campaign for retrofitting home insulation and the fitting of ground-source heat pumps, to help tackle fuel poverty and the cost-of-living crisis.

As well as our established Green Councillor in Ashton we have a growing number across Greater Manchester, I would like to join them.

Dawn Cobb (Conservative)

Over the past 40 years of living in Denton, I have seen how Labour has neglected our town.

Their focus has been on Ashton and have just left us behind.

Our market has closed, our high street has declined, and the streets just keep getting dirtier – and that’s with one of the local Labour councillors being in charge of street cleansing.

I know what a great place our town can be. My children attended schools here, I work and shop here.

As a former school governor, a volunteer youth worker and a fundraiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind, I have played an active role in our local community.

We deserve better. We need someone from our community who cares for our town and who will put the interests of Denton and its people first.

There is a difference between national and local politics - so if you want to real change in Denton then vote for me in these elections.

Allison Gwynne (Labour)

Serving the residents of Denton North East, my home, has been an honour and a privilege.

I stand again on a record of achievement - I’ve always focused on the things that matter like removing litter, graffiti and fly tipping. The things that make our area better to live in. Cleaner safer streets, and a pride in our community are the cornerstones of my work, and I work alongside many community groups to deliver this.

Through my time on the council, I have helped resolve issues from housing to schooling to adults and children’s services.

I have been a strong voice on local planning disputes and have represented residents at public meetings.

Please vote for me and my two other Labour colleagues on May 4th so we can continue to be your community champions. Vote for Gwynne, Ricci and Ward. And don’t forget your photo ID!

Vincent Ricci (Labour)

I’m pleased once again to represent Denton North East ward at the all out election on May 4th. I have served my community since 1998.

I promise to continue to work tirelessly with my Ward Colleagues, to make Denton and Tameside a better place.

Three Votes for Labour, and remember your Voter ID. 

Thank you for your continued support!

Denise Ward (Labour)

Representing Denton North East for 15 years has been a privilege and honour.

This year it’s an all out election, where you have three votes for Labour, GWYNNE, RICCI and WARD.

It’s also different the way you vote, if you go to the polling booths, you will need ID, passport, driving licence or bus pass!

Denton South 

Timothy Cho (Conservative) 

Times are tough right now for many families. Having lived on the streets begging for food, escaped from North Korea and been tortured for the ‘crime’ of wanting freedom, I know that life can be hard and unfair.

But your Labour candidates have actively chosen to make life even more difficult for you and your family by raising your Council Tax. But, when they take home almost £50,000 of local taxpayers’ money in allowances, they can afford it, even if you can’t.

You can vote to change all this – change from the failure of the same old local Labour councillors who promise the earth and achieve nothing. Labour councillors who say they will save Two Trees from the developers and then see their party colleagues put it up for sale.

Labour has failed Haughton Green for too long. Give me, your Conservative candidate, a chance and I will show you that things can only get better.

Bethany Gartside (Green)

* no image supplied 

I am offering the people of Denton South the opportunity to vote for a Green candidate.

We already have an established Green Councillor in Ashton and I would support his efforts to cut the Council’s use of bee-killing pesticides. I also fully support his attempts at creating wildflower verges from grass to encourage biodiversity and drastically cut grounds maintenance costs.

I am working to promote essential environmental actions to protect the future of my 11-year-old son. He is concerned about the impact of melting land ice on sea levels (as well as the survival of polar bears).

Greens are already winners in Tameside. We need more Greens to intensify the pressure on Labour to improve performance and desist from maximum Council tax hikes. With three votes this year, a vote for me makes more sense than ever.

The cost-of-living-crisis has highlighted the need to reduce transport costs with cheaper, reliable public transport and safer walking and cycling provision.

Green-led councils elsewhere are already progressing on these issues.

Farmin Lord F’Tang F’Tang Dave of Haughton – Official Monster Raving Loony Party

It’s a great privilege to stand for election in the ward I have spent all my years.

I was educated at Corrie Primary before moving to Two Trees school. It was an absolute travesty that Two Trees was closed by Tameside Council.

Housing on the fields is unacceptable for the vast majority of residents.

Our plans for the site include Britain’s tallest school to raise education standards, a Theme park for dogs, sports facilities with power generating treadmills and fill the rest with solar panels. The power would then be used to power a cable car for Mill Lane and to heat bus shelters.

I strongly oppose the shameful CAZ tax and would increase the numbers of green vehicles by subsidising green re-sprays.

Send a message to the Westminster parties on May the 4th and use one of three votes for the Official Monster Raving Loony ... if you  want to. Thanks for reading.

FLFF DAVE of Haughton

Denton South Labour Party 

A joint statement by the three Labour Party candidates in the Denton South ward: Jack Naylor, George Newton and Claire Reid.

Use your three votes for Jack, George and Claire in Denton South. 

Councillors Jack Naylor, George Newton and Claire Reid are standing for re-election in Denton South on Thursday 4 May.

This year, voters will be given three votes instead of the usual one: we are asking residents to cast all three votes for Labour’s Jack Naylor, George Newton and Claire Reid.

Jack, George and Claire said: ‘We are so proud to represent Denton South on Tameside Council, but even prouder to call it our home.

Our community continues to face unprecedented challenges as families from across Haughton Green and Denton who are trying to move on from the pandemic are now met with a crippling cost of living crisis.

We’ll continue to do all we can to support families throughout the crisis, fight for our fair share in spite of cruel Tory cuts, and do all we can to ensure Denton South remains a great place to live, work and raise a family.’

Jack, George and Claire all live locally and attended Two Trees High School.

Jack works in hospitality, lives  with his wife Nicola and children Charlotte and Jacob and enjoys reading, cooking and watching sport.

George lives in Haughton Green and works in communications. Once known for producing The Village News, he enjoys cycling, walking, and attending the occasional beer festival.

Claire works locally in Denton and lives in Haughton Dale with her husband Paul and daughter Robyn - they all love long walks in Haughton Dale Nature Reserve.

Denton West 

Tom Dunne (Conservative)

Denton West’s Labour councillor and former Leader of the Council showed her total contempt for local families when she spat at those opposed to plans to build on our countryside: “I will be on that bulldozer and it will be rammed down your throat.”

Those 14 words show Labour’s complete contempt for your concerns and feelings. They take your vote for granted and just do not care what you want your Council to do for you, your family and your community.

It’s just not good enough and it’s time that we got the change we desperately need in Denton. Change for councillors who listen and really care about what you want for your local community.

If you elect me as your councillor, I will never take you for granted. I will work throughout the year to hear your views and stand up for your family and our Denton.

George Jones (Labour)

It’s an honour and privilege to have represented Denton West for the past three and a half years.

I promised when I was first elected that I would strive to make our community, my home, a cleaner, greener and safer place to grow up, get on and grow old and that I would work alongside our community organisations and partner agencies to deliver on this mission.

I firmly believe we have made progress on all fronts and I’m proud to have developed strong relationships with partners who share my strive to make our community an even better place, but I recognise there is more to do.

That is why I am asking for your support in the upcoming local elections on 4 May. Alongside Mike Smith and Brenda Warrington, I will continue to be a strong voice for our community and work all year round to address your concerns.

Please use all three votes for Labour -  back the team that works hard for you.

Christopher Parr (Green)

I am standing to give the people of Denton West the opportunity to vote for a local Green candidate. With three votes, it makes sense this time around.

As a Green Councillor I would work to progress Tameside’s Climate Change and Environment Strategy. The council declared a climate emergency over three years ago but the Council still lacks sufficient defined actions or targets, despite an already agreed Greater Manchester Environment Plan.

Given the dramatic increase in the cost of living, the obvious actions to pursue are firstly home insulation - for lower energy bills and less CO2 emissions. Secondly, real walking and cycling infrastructure and better and cheaper public transport. This would reduce car dependency as well as reducing both pollution and CO2.

Green-led councils across the country are already working on these issues.

Councillor Lee Huntbach is now an established Green member of the Council and I would like to join him. We have proved that we are electable so you can vote Green with confidence.

Mike Smith (Labour)

I am delighted to have been selected to stand in the forthcoming election. I have represented the Denton West ward for 20 years, working hard to support residents, community groups and volunteers.

My first experience of a fantastic community group was working with the Horses Field Resident’s Association to protect the open space and this is still an active group in our local area.

Our newest group is the Friends of Ladbroke Wood and I look forward to working hard to help enhance and protect our green space.

As an active councillor, you will have seen me at community events, litter picking and supporting new and existing initiatives in the local area.

Taking to residents is an important part of a councillors role and if elected, I look forward to holding regular surgeries with my ward colleagues.

I hope I can count on your continued support on 4 May.

Brenda Warrington (Labour)

It is an honour and a privilege to represent the communities of Denton West on Tameside Council.

I was first elected in 2002 and for the past 21 years I, together with my ward colleagues, have sought to represent the best interests of the residents of Denton West. We strive to help make Denton West a desirable place to live and work, clean, safe streets are so important.

We have always supported and worked closely with the many amazing community groups that exist in Denton West, the vast army of volunteers work tirelessly to provide a huge range of events and recreational facilities throughout the year and they are highly valued.

I believe it is important to be readily available to assist residents and to this end we have always held weekly surgeries, been contactable by telephone and via email, letter and social media.

I am seeking the continued support of Denton West residents on 4 May to re-elect me (Brenda WARRINGTON)) once more and also to re-elect George JONES and Mike SMITH to ensure that Team Denton West can continue to represent the best interests of Denton West.

Droylsden East 

Louise Axon (Green)

My name is Louise Axon and I am delighted to be standing in Droylsden East. Droylsden’s voters have the genuine option to elect another Green Councillor as they did up the road, in Ashton Waterloo, especially with three votes!

I am committed to a future for my two young boys and am determined to do all I can to ensure one.

I feel our Council have done little towards achieving the aims of the Climate Emergency motion they passed over three years ago. Tameside was the last of the 10 Greater Manchester combined authorities to pass such a motion and have failed to follow it up with action.

I believe local business is crucial to the local economy and if elected, will focus on supporting independent shops and small businesses which return profits to the community, rather than to rich shareholders.

Green-led Councils across the country are achieving these goals and much more.

Greens are winning in Tameside. If you want Green, vote Green.

Laura Boyle (Labour)

My name is Laura Boyle and I am delighted to have been re-selected to represent Droylsden East ward along with my colleagues David Mills and Sue Quinn.

I have been a Councillor for over four years and want to continue fighting for our town.

I am a local girl and went to Fairfield High School and St Stephens Primary School.

My early education gave me the skills to progress and become a teacher and an environmental scientist.

As a single parent, I have experienced first hand the effects this Tory Government has had on people’s lives - soaring energy costs, food bills and the cost of living crisis.

The current Government don’t care for towns like ours, cutting millions from the Council’s budget over the last 10 years. Droylsden has an experienced team and deserves good representation.

We are making sure Droylsden gets the services it deserves. We want the very best for our town and hope you will continue to support myself and my ward colleagues in the upcoming Elections.

Vote wisely! And remember - three votes for Labour on 4 May.

David Mills (Labour)

My name is David Mills and It has been my honour to have been a councillor since 2017 but I have been working for the community of Droylsden and Tameside for the last 20 years.

In this time I have seen many changes and it has been my privilege to work with such great groups over those years.

From planting with City of Trees on Copperas Field to the events organised on Villemomble Square in the town centre and community litter picks organised by our licensees I have seen the best in the people of Droylsden who have chosen to elect me twice before.

As a Labour team we work all year round for the people of Droylsden meeting with residents and business to ensure the very best for each and every one of us.

I always put the community first and will continue to do so. I am proud to be able to speak to one of our schools in their electorate school council.

I am proud that we were able to take out the green belt land at the edge of the ward as part of the GM Spatial framework. I am proud to live in Droylsden East and would love to continue to represent the community that I love.

Susan Quinn (Labour)

My name is Sue Quinn and I have been a Droylsden East Councillor for 23 years.

I feel really privileged to represent the residents of Droylsden East.

No two days are the same and there are so many different issues to deal with. I try my best to help and resolve people’s issues.

I love being part of the team who organise the Droylsden Christmas Lights switch on. I promise to carry on working hard for the people of Droylsden East if I am reselected on 4 May.

Matt Stevenson (Conservative)

For too long we have seen Droylsden in steep decline – Labour has closed our market, removed the hanging baskets of flowers and many of the shops have left town, only to be replaced by endless takeaways.

Having lived here all my life, I remember how it was so very much different. But we have been let down by Labour councillors who have no ambition for our town.

They take local people’s votes for granted, do nothing to improve Droylsden, and then have the nerve to ask you to vote them back in again.

Labour’s priority has never been Droylsden – despite two of the past three council leaders representing the town.

But this May you can send them a message that you want better for you and your family. Vote for a strong Conservative councillor to deliver the change we need. Vote for me, Matt Stevenson, your local Conservative candidate.

Also standing:

Rowan Fitton (Liberal Democrats)

Droylsden West 

Ged Cooney (Labour)

My name is Ged Cooney. Me and my fellow Labour candidates all live in Droylsden. It is a local election and we will carry on working for you, the people of Droylsden.

We will work with the owners of the precinct to bring about the new beginning, maintain our green areas, fight to keep the tram line from closing for two years and many other local issues.

You can use these local elections to give this Government a strong message - we need a change. They need to reduce our mortgage payments, heating costs and fuel bills.

I will never forget Liz Truss’s Tory Government’s short term in office and nor should you.

We are all paying for it now. Vote for change and use your three votes for Labour on 4 May.

Nicola Harrop (Green)

I am a disabled student currently studying Anatomical Science at the University of Manchester.

I and my family have a passion for animals. We helped foster and re-home a beautiful long-term stray cat and support local animal rescue charities within Tameside.

I believe school is where our children should be taught about sustainability, climate change and the environment within a structured, science-based curriculum.

I would like to see an increase of community activities for our teenage children, giving them the opportunity to interact in a positive, active and productive way.

Disability and mental health issues are a huge concern. With services for social care being cut and COVID-19 still impacting upon the lives of so many, it is important that mental health services are supported across the wider area of Tameside.

We have an established Green Councillor in Ashton, were a close second in Dukinfield, and challenged the big parties in a third of seats, last time.

We are electable. So, if you want Green, vote Green.

Ann Holland (Labour)

My name is Ann Holland. Along with my fellow Labour candidates, I live in Droylsden and I’m proud to say so.

I’ve never been one to sit back when representing the people of Droylsden.

It’s important to me to maintain our heritage and protect green areas in Droylsden from development for us all to enjoy. We need more affordable housing.

I believe voting for Labour will send a strong message to this Government that we need change.

Remember you will need suitable ID at the polling station. Please use all three votes for Labour on 4 May.

Barrie Holland (Labour)

My name is Barrie Holland and along with Ged and Ann I live in Droylsden.

I will continue the hard work dealing with the issues which affect you the most.

High fuel bills, an increase in mortgages and rents and the rising cost of food are having a detrimental effect on so many of us.

Let’s tell this Government we have had enough on 4 May. Please use all three votes for Labour.

James Wexler (Conservative)

Your Labour councillors have represented Droylsden West for many years, but what have we got for our votes?

They have completely failed us and taken us all for granted.

Under them, Labour closed our market, and shops and banks have abandoned Droylsden. They have no ideas and no influence on how to stop the rot – and one of them is even the council leader!

It’s time we gave them a good shake up and elected local councillors who really care about our town. We need a fresh voice on the council giving a fresh perspective on the issues affecting us and our town – and that is why I am standing to be the change we really need here.

As your councillor I would fight to get our fair share for Droylsden. Only a vote for James Wexler, your local Conservative candidate, on 4 May can deliver the change we need.

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