Candidates for Local Elections 2024
Plymouth City Council Elections 2nd May 2024
Peter Edwards - Plymstock Dunstone
Hailing from Lancashire, Peter is married to a Plymothian and has lived and worked in Devon and Cornwall since 1983. Trained originally as a Production Engineer, Peter later worked in Industrial Relations, Personnel Management and General Management. He has worked in both the private and public sectors. Since completing a Master’s degree with Sheffield Business School, he worked as a consultant with a wide range of employers including private companies of all sizes, the armed forces/security services, emergency services, Social Services, General Practices, and the University of Plymouth. He later worked in senior management with the NHS and a Housing Association; his last management appointment was with the Magistrates Courts in Plymouth 2002-07. This was followed by five years part time work with St Lukes Hospice while training as a Psychotherapist and Peter now works in private practice in Plymstock. Voluntary work in the community has always featured in Peter’s life: Tavistock Community Association, youth work, a recycling and organic growing project (Proper Job) and Trusteeship with the Plymouth College of Art and Design (now Arts University Plymouth). He represented HealthWatch Plymouth on the City’s Health & Wellbeing Board for three years. Currently Peter is an Associate Trustee with a charity, the Community Advice and Support Service working across Devon and Cornwall.
Two step-daughters and five grandchildren, fair weather cycling, gardening and heavy duty DIY keep Peter fit and feeling young. He believes strongly in ‘freedom with responsibility’ and a common sense, cooperative approach to life.
Christopher Oram - Plympton Erle
Christopher works in the sales and customer service department at SSG Training & Consultancy in Plympton and is currently retraining as a Psychotherapist at Devon Counselling College while on the board of trustees of Relate Counselling in Plymouth.
Christopher is passionate about mental health, the environment, fixing social care and tackling the housing crisis.
If elected in Plympton Erle, Christopher will be focusing on improving bus links in the area (bringing back a bus between Plymstock and Plympton), championing investment in local roads and pavements, safeguarding our green spaces and ensuring that Plympton is no longer ignored by City Council.
Alex Primmer - Efford and Lipson
I have lived my whole life in Plymouth and worked in and around the city for most of that too. Plymouth is a city that I am proud to call my home, but after years of poor management by successive councils it is in need of a spruce up.
Thats why I am asking you to let me represent you as your local councillor. To get back to basics, fix the potholes, tidy up the management approach, clean our streets, pavements, parks and open spaces and give us all a home to be proud of.
After years of working in finance I know how to squeeze best value out of every pound we spend, and as a proud Plymothian I have the passion to accomplish that optimistic vision for our neighbourhood and our city we all share.
Dr Ioana-Cristina Draper - Plympton St Mary
Ioana-Cristina (Cristina), originally from Bucharest, Romania, is a qualified Paediatrician and Microbiologist and has been living with her husband in Crownhill since March 2006.
Although not a resident of Plympton St Mary, she has been very active in the past inspreading the Libdem message with her husband, Dennis, who stood in the neighbouring ward in 2019 and 2021.
Cristina has extensive experience of the workings of the NHS in her health-related roles at Derriford hospital.
Cristina is particularly concerned about the poor state of roads, pavements, anti-social behaviour, and poor public transport connections to other parts of the City. This situation can only be improved by a complete overhaul in the way local authorities are funded.
Dennis Draper - Eggbuckland
Dennis is a retired Health and Safety Consultant who has lived in Crownhill with his wife, Cristina, since 2006.
Originally from Tavistock Dennis worked in local government with Plymouth City Council and Swindon Council for 21 years before joining an international Health and Safety Consultancy working around the UK and mainland Europe.
He has extensive knowledge of the workings of local government and has witnessed many changes in local representation over the years which have been both good and bad.
He has been especially active in the Eggbuckland Community in getting repairs carried out to footpaths and other highway remediation work following the fibre broadband road and pavement works.
Dennis is particularly concerned about the poor state of roads and pavements, together with litter strewn areas and graffiti. He would support the reopening of Plymouth Airport.
If elected he will pursue a more open course of dialogue between the Council and the public at large.
Fleur Ball - Sutton and Mount Gould
Fleur Ball joined the Liberal Democrats in 2003 and has stood for election to the council a number of times. She was an administrator in the NHS for several years and left to take up an administrative post with a trade union.
She has lived in Plymouth for nearly 40 years and has been volunteering for one of the City’s charities for seven years.
Hugh Janes – St Peter and the Waterfront
Hugh Janes is Chair and Honorary President of the Plymouth Liberal Democrats. He joined the party in 2003 and has been an active member ever since.
He would like to see a more open approach to politics with members of all parties working together for the good of the city. This approach is working well in the South Hams where LibDems control the council.
Cooperation between councilors may have prevented much of the damage and waste that has taken place in the centre of Plymouth over recent years. Hugh is a fulltime playwright and screenwriter.
Richard Bray - Compton
Richard works as an accountant for a major UK cancer charity. He also plays an active part in the charity sector as Chair of the Charity Tax Group. He believes that Plymouth has been shortchanged for years and that this needs to change.
Richard lives in the Compton Ward where he is standing and wants to bring people together to help release the potential of the ward and the city. He believes it can happen!
Richard Simpson – Moor View
After 9 years as an Officer in the Royal Navy, I trained to teach in Plymouth, at the college of St. Mark and St. John, as it was then, and have been teaching in Plymouth and Devon for the last 28 years.
I have been married for 36 years and have three grown-up sons and four granddaughters. My naval career brought me to Plymouth, where I have lived for the last 34 years and am delighted to be in such a fantastic location.
I enjoy sailing, hiking on Dartmoor, reading, theatre visits and spending time with my family, especially on South West beaches.
I joined the Liberal Democrat party in the 1990s and am more convinced than ever that they offer the best way forward for Britain locally and nationally.
Stephen Goldthorp - St Budeaux
I was born in Milton Keynes and grew up in North Cambridgeshire in the Fens before moving to Plymouth to attend University where I studied and gained a degree in Geography with Geology and then completed a graduate diploma in Law. I’ve spent most of my working life in working fulltime retail and was a key worker in the pandemic. I have in the past completed several of the Plymouth Half Marathons, and raised money for local charities like St. Lukes Hospice.
I have been previously active in local politics, standing in local elections and supporting candidates with campaigning.
Outside of politics I enjoy geeky and nerdy pursuits including gaming, cosplaying at Devcon, and wide range of interests from music and the arts to history, geography and the sciences.
My motivation for local politics this year is my dismay at the local Conservative’s pressing on with the cutting down of the trees in the city centre under the cover of darkness and behind solid boards despite prominent local voices speaking out against such actions.
I think the city needs better access to NHS dentists, more housing provision and I would like to see Plymouth build on its strengths from its maritime industries, University and Creative Arts such as its world class theatre as well as encouraging more manufacturing jobs to the area.
Stuart Bonar – Ham
Stuart Bonar works for a trade union representing frontline NHS staff.
He wants to see better transport links for the city, as well as the council doing more to help those struggling to find affordable housing. He grew up in the city, and his family lives in Ham ward.
He stood for election to Parliament in 2010 and 2015 in the constituency covering Ham ward.
Sara Jennett – Plymstock Radford
I worked for many years in education, firstly in secondary schools as a teacher and then in higher education. Until recently I was working part-time as a complementary therapist. I am now retired, but still active and engaged in the local community of Plymstock, where I live.
My concerns include:
• Providing open green spaces for children to play and adults to relax in fresh air.
• Improving facilities for young people outside school time, e.g. youth clubs, sports activities.
• Ensuring local consultation in planning consents.
• Improving waste collection and promoting anti-litter campaigns, in public spaces and in schools.
Katie McManus - Southway
I strongly believe that Plymouth needs a wider range of voices and ideas on the council to ensure real representation of our community. I have a background in education, equality and diversity, policy, planning and development, as well as experience across the public and private sectors.
I am delighted to be the candidate for Southway ward, where I live, and I hope to ensure that the area receives support and funding for sufficient transport links, environmental and community projects. If elected I would be a strong advocate for improving mental health and youth services for Plymouth. I also have a keen interest in environmental issues and have a Masters in Sustainable Development.
I have been living in the Southway ward for the last 6 years and have enjoyed being part of such a wonderful area and community.
Mike Gillbard - Stoke
Mike Gillbard is a former teacher and an experienced Councillor having served on Cornwall Council for 12 years before moving to Plymouth.
He has lived and worked in Plymouth, residing in Stoke for the past 18 years. Mike now works part-time as a local guide.
He is concerned about the number of potholes and the state of pavements in Stoke Ward. Mike is keen to see the number of independent traders in Stoke Village and Millbridge maintained for a healthy community economy.
Mike feels that there is a need for an alternative voice on the City Council instead of the seesaw balance between the Tories and Labour.
Jim Spencer - Budshead
I first came to Plymouth in 1974 and I have lived in the city ever since. Plymouth is a fantastic place to live, surrounded by Dartmoor and the sea.
The city has changed beyond recognition since I arrived, and I want the expansion and reaching out to continue. We need to have a green agenda to future proof the city with the advent of climate change.
We should provide help, support, and opportunities for all Plymouth’s citizens to reach their full potential and in particular to provide good, well-paid jobs and affordable accommodation to encourage our young people to stay.
Let’s do better to make Plymouth a city where everyone can thrive and feel valued.
Jeff Hall – Devonport
Jeff is a shopkeeper who is well aware of the many problems facing retail traders at this time. “The terrible state of much of the city centre, the increase in shoplifting, a lack of police officers ‘on the beat’ and the cost-of-living crisis have all caused severe disruption,” he said. Sections of Devonport are suffering in the same way and Jeff will do all he can to help. He is keen that the Liberal Democrat fundamental value of community can make a difference and would work to encourage that.
While optimistic about the refurbishment of The Brickfields, Jeff will fight to see some much-needed sustainable jobs brought into the area as a result as well as encouraging developers to meet their commitments to build genuinely affordable homes for those on low incomes.
Steve Guy – Peverell
Steve lives close to Central Park and is well situated to deal with issues that arise in Peverell. He is a long-standing member of the Liberal Democrats and believes that the core values of a fair, free, and open society should be brought into local policies.
He wants to see a more collective approach to the Council, where parties openly discuss problems and arrive at general agreements and end the cross-party fighting that holds up progress in Plymouth.
Road and pavement repairs, improved street lighting, proper ‘real-time’ timetable information at bus stops and better NHS appointments are some of the problems residents have mentioned to him that he will improve if elected on May 2nd.
Jacqui Spencer – Plympton Chaddlewood
I was born in Plymouth and was educated here until moving away to university. After some years, I returned and have lived here ever since. It is a good place to live with the superb waterfront and lovely countryside within easy reach.
We need to celebrate the cultural facilities such as the Theatre Royal, The Box and the Marine Aquarium, which attract many visitors from outside the city.
With the ongoing regeneration, we must continue to make it a place which attracts more businesses to relocate here to provide good quality jobs and encourage more people to live and work here.
We urgently need to repurpose some of the city centre retail estate to provide living and working space for local small businesses and entrepreneurs.
For more information or to contact any of the Plymouth Liberal Democrat candidates