Royton rejects council veteran

Phil Harrison

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Veteran Oldham councillor and former mayor Peter Dean has been turned down by Labour members to represent Royton South at next year’s local elections.

He was defeated for the selection by former Labour colleague Phil Harrison.

Mr Harrison also lost his Royton South seat in 2008, but is hoping to bounce back after a two-year absence next year.

Councillor Dean, who is a Failsworth East councillor until May, 2010, said: “I decided not to stand in Failsworth because I have moved into Royton and thought it was more appropriate to stand there.”

Councillor Dean’s current seat in Failsworth East will be fought by former Labour colleague Barbara Dawson, who lost her seat to the Conservatives last year.

Councillor Dean remains on the panel of proposed candidates from which other ward parties can chose. With the Labour selections now more than half completed, Councillor Dean said it is up to the Labour Party to decide if he will stand in another ward.

He fought his first Oldham election in 1976, but it was 1979 before he got his first seat in Werneth, which he held until he moved to Coldhurst in 1991. He was mayor in 1997-8 and is board member of NHS Oldham, school governor and and aide to Oldham West and Royton MP, Michael Meacher.

Former councillor and Cabinet member Hugh McDonald hopes to return to his Alexandra seat where he has been selected to fight in 2010. He also lost his seat last year. Joe Fitzpatrick, who was a Labour councillor in Lees for eight years in the 1990s, is also hoping to make a comeback in Waterhead.

Serving councillors Aqeel Salamat, Olwen Chadderton, and Shoab Akhtar have been selected for their seats in St Mary’s, Royton North and Werneth, respectively.

Former Hollinwood councillor Jean Stretton has been chosen to fight for the Hollinwood seat she lost last year. But Councillor Jean Jones is stepping down from Medlock Vale after five years, and previously two years in St Paul’s Ward, and retiring from council life.