Voice of Saddleworth heard loud and clear
Date published: 09 May 2011
Photo: Chris Sunderland
Independents’ DAY . . . Helen Lenin, Nick Watts, Lesley Brown, Rob Knotts, Nicola Kirkham and Ken Hulme.
Independent group claim parish seats
INDEPENDENTS triumphed at the Saddleworth Parish Council elections as they dealt a blow to the Liberal Democrat majority.
Four out of seven members of the newly formed Voice of Saddleworth group scooped their desired seats during a surprise shake-up when Thursday’s votes were finally counted on Friday.
They included Ken Hulme and Nicola Kirkham, who took the top two spots in Delph respectively, and former RAF squadron leader Robert Knotts, who scooped one of the two seats up for grabs in Springhead Higher.
It was an attack that saw familiar faces such as Lib-Dem candidates Barbara Beeley and Dorothy Shaw unseated.
Robert Knotts said: “We’re delighted. There is a strong party system at borough level and the parish council comes well down the pecking order.
“An independent voice is what was needed.”
Lesley Brown, who also won a place as an independent, said: “This is the first time in so long there has been a real challenge, now we can look at issues over a wide spectrum to address what is important to the people of Saddleworth.”
It was a day of mixed fortunes for the Lib-Dems.
Mirroring the trend in the borough elections the night before, candidates lost out on five seats, dropping from 17 members to 12.
Long-standing councillor Derek Heffernan triumphed while Mike Buckley also emerged victorious in Dobcross.
Brian Lord, who just hours before lost his place on the Oldham Council cabinet, celebrated after placing top with 942 votes in Springhead Lower.
He said: “This is a consolation prize for me, but I’ve spent 40 to 50 hours a week for the past three years working for the borough council.
“We got punished for what has gone on nationally.”
Like father like son Robert McCann, son of borough councillor John McCann, clinched his seat for the Lib-Dems in the Greenfield ward.
The 28-year-old security manager becomes the youngest member of the council.
He said: “Being around politics from a young age through my dad made me aware that you can be involved instead of just moaning about it.
“It’s great to have younger people on the council, there’s a now a better mix of those with that experience and the young that have fresh ideas.”
Meanwhile the Conservatives had cause to celebrate after increasing their seats from two to four, including Uppermill sub-postmaster Graham Sheldon.
He scooped an Uppermill seat for the party for the first time in the council’s 37-year history.
Councillor John Hudson, who claimed his seat in Greenfield, said: “I think this will give the parish a better overall view and encourage more interesting debates.”
Councillor David Atherton said: “I hope it will breath life back into the council, for a while it has been all talk and very little action and hopefully these results will change that.”
The new constitution of Saddleworth Parish Council is: Lib Dems 12, Conservative 4, Independent 4.
How you voted
SADDLEWORTH
Delph (Three seats)
Kenneth Hulme (Ind) 868
Nicola Kirkham (Ind) 563
Alan Roughley (Lib-Dem) 450
Louie Hamblet (Lib-Dem) 429
Sharon McGladderey (Lib-Dem) 378
Dobcross (Three seats)
Mike Buckley (Lib-Dem) 737
Royce Franklin (Lib-Dem) 643
Lesley Brown (Ind) 598
Dorothy Shaw (Lib-Dem) 503
Phil Sewell (Con) 456
Barbara Jackson (Con) 356
Greenfield (Five seats)
David Atherton (Con) 1,086
John Hudson (Con) 1,065
Neil Allsopp (Con) 859
Mavis Bingley (Lib-Dem) 835
Robert McCann (Lib-Dem) 817
David Caddick (Con) 775
Edna Wolstenhulme (Con) 706
Dannielle Murphy (Lib Dem) 679
Joan Darke (Lib-Dem) 663
Jill Read (Lab) 644
Keith Taylor (Lib-Dem) 603
Ian Manners (Lab) 581
Helen Bishop (Ind) 509
Springhead Higher
(Two seats)
Derek Heffernan (Lib-Dem) 338
Robert Knotts (Ind) 262
Barbara Beeley (Lib-Dem) 239
Natalie Wolstenhulme (Con) 168
Springhead Lower
(Five Seats)
Brian Lord (Lib-Dem) 942
Pat Lord (Lib-Dem) 805
Bill Cullen (Lib-Dem) 696
Garth Harkness (Lib-Dem) 658
Enid Firth (Lib-Dem) 670
Philip Gaul (Lab) 574
Paul Fryer (Ind) 481
Uppermill (Two seats)
Graham Sheldon (Con) 615
Leslie Schofield (Lib-Dem) 445
Alma McInnes (Lib Dem) 403
Pam Byrne (Con) 320
Nicholas Watts (Ind) 262
