Mari named youth champ

Cllr Mari Wiswell

THE votes have been cast and the winner chosen — and it’s a popular result for the “I’m a Councillor … Get Me Out of Here” event.

Chairman of the Liberal Democrat-controlled Shaw and Crompton Parish Council, Councillor Mari Wiswell, has added another string to her bow by coming first in the online democracy event.

It sees the former police officer, teacher and Lib-Dem campaigner, who lives in Royton, being crowned Oldham Council’s Youth Champion 2009.

The event was held from October 5 to 16 when young people from across the borough submitted more than 200 questions, which councillors answered via the “I’m A Councillor …” website.

Oldham’s enthusiastic young people asked the most questions out of all the other councils taking part.

The event saw councillors in the running for the award attend face-to-face meetings with youngsters and take part in four online chat sessions.

Councillor Wiswell said: “I am absolutely delighted to be Youth Champion.

“I would like to thank all the young people who took part, but in particular to Hathershaw College of Technology and Sport, which put us through our paces when we attended two sessions with Year 8 pupils on Wednesday.

“I am looking forward to helping those young people who wanted something doing in their local areas, whether that was tidying up the green spaces or seeing if the Deaf Club can get funding to meet more than once a month.”

Royton South Liberal Democrat councillor Diane Williamson, who was the runner-up, said: “I knew from the outset that Mari would win. She has such a strong personality and gets on well with young people. She absolutely deserved to win!”

Also taking part were Labour councillor Steven Bashforth, who came third, Lib-Dem councillor Linda Dawson in fourth and Labour councillor Aileen Bell in fifth.