John Short – Blunsdon & Highworth 3rd 12.5% 429 votes During my many years with Swindon Borough Council I managed a workforce of more than 3,500 people and worked with a budget of over £65m, and left a budget surplus. Years of mismanagement have led to our council being an incredible £92m in debt and failing in its duties to deliver frontline services to local people. I will work to reverse the years of neglect, whilst ensuring that Old Town residents are strongly represented and their wishes respected, particularly in terms of planning issues and the contribution that the business community can make to the recovery of the town.
Brian Osbourn – Covingham & Dorcan 3rd 17.9% 569 votes I am Chairman of Covingham Parish Council and have been working for you at the grassroots as a parish councillor for over eight years, during which time Covingham Parish Council has delivered for residents. As your UKIP Ward Councillor I will listen to the electorate and I will work for you. The other parties have promised so much and delivered so little through Swindon Borough Council. I have an established track record of delivering for local residents, please give me the chance to represent you on the Borough Council and I can do so much more.
Terry Hayward – Eastcott 5th 4.6% 128 votes I have been a resident in Swindon for over 40 years and I currently serve on Covingham Parish Council and have been involved in local projects in Park North & South over the last 10 years such as landscaping, letter picking, cleaning up vandalism and graffiti, alongside help from the local communities. My views are to ensure that council services are delivered on time and to the requirements of the local residents.
Ed Gerrard – Haydon Wick 3rd 15.7% 436 votes Now retired, I have lived in Woodall Park for more than 22 years. My working life was as an electrical engineer for various multinational companies. As a serving Haydon Wick parish councillor, I believe that local issues must always come before party politics. North Swindon's increasing development places heavy pressure on our local road infrastructure. I will, at all levels, continue to support the extension of Thamesdown Drive onto Great Western Way to be completed as soon as possible. I support the Haydon Wick Centre, which must remain a community run leisure facility, without any increase to our council tax.
Bob Shepard – Liden, Eldene & S. Park 3rd 20.6% 537 votes I have lived in Eldene for more than 28 years and work as an HGV driver and instructor. We are getting a bad deal from the council in Liden, Eldene and Park South at the moment. The council is concentrating on deals with developers for new build on the green belt land and grand schemes for the town centre. We need the council to be getting the basics right in delivering services to residents in established parts of Swindon such as our own area. Please lend me your support at these elections and I will make sure that our voice is heard.
Terry Davis – Old Town 3rd 7.5% 208 votes I am a 63 year old company director, married to Alison and we have two grown up children. For the first 25 years of my life I lived in Dixon Street. Myself and my wife have spent our married life in the Old Town area. Consequently I am connected to and care about the welfare of residents in the Old Town ward. I am standing as a UKIP candidate and we firmly believe that Swindon Borough Council needs to concentrate on core services that affect everyone in Old Town such as refuse and recycling, cleaning our streets and road repairs.
Jenny Jefferies – Penhill & Upper Stratton 3rd 18.4% 476 votes I have lived in Swindon since 1954, firstly in Penhill and now in Chiseldon, where I have lived since 1987. I am married to Jeff and we have two daughters and 3 granddaughters, and I am very grateful for the opportunities that Swindon has offered me. My background is in employment, and I have worked with some of the largest employers in Swindon. I feel that the UKIP local policies will enable Swindon to resume its rightful position as a progressive, proud, town. This is what we stand for, and what we are determined to deliver.
Gary Belben – Priory Vale 3rd 12.5% 258 votes I have worked in the nuclear industry for 12 years as a project manager and would like to offer my experience in managing budgets and complex projects by working for you as your local councillor. I will listen to your needs and work with integrity to ensure that the council improves frontline service delivery in Priory Vale, whilst cutting out wasteful expenditure. As a local resident I am especially concerned about the council’s green field building deals that go against the wishes of the people, and their failure to get roads and schools in place to support the new housing.
Paul Kosidowski- Ridgeway 4th 7.3% 82 votes I have been a resident in Swindon for some 5 years and have been a UKIP member for 12 years. I have been involved in local politics for some time. My main focus at the moment would be on the development of housing around the Ridgeway area. The pressure on housing and on public services such as schools, hospitals, transport networks, power and water supplies, is far too great. We must protect the green belt, bring empty homes back in to use, build one million homes on brownfields sites by 2020, prioritise social housing for those with local connections to an area. I would fight for the local people around Ridgeway to have a final say on major planning developments in this area.
Sue Short – St. Andrews 3rd 10.8% 249 votes I’m married to John Short and have lived in Swindon for 30 years. I have spent my life working in public services: the police force, fire brigade and hospitals. For the past 18 years I have worked at the Princess Margaret and Great Western Hospitals. This has given me a great appreciation of the delivery of frontline public services and the need for their competent management, to ensure that the public get a high standard of service. If elected, I will continue my ethos by working to serve the wishes of the people of St. Andrews, rather than politicians.
Mike Viret – Stratton St. Margaret & South Marsdon 3rd 13.8% 393 votes During August 1976, I arrived in Swindon to take up employment having been made redundant in my home town . My wife and I raised our family here. We have never regretted moving to Swindon. The town was much smaller back in the 70,s. As a local resident and prospective UKIP candidate I am concerned about the Eastern expansion and the changes and difficulties it will cause. Being a UKIP councillor means that I am there to represent the people and focus on the issues important to them for their wellbeing. There are many other issues of course, however, I feel UKIP brings a fresh approach to deal with them.
Steve Halden – Walcot & Park North 3rd 16.2% 432 votes As your UKIP candidate I will champion the young generation in a fight to get a decent job and home for all. UKIP believe it is the right of every young working family to have a decent home to raise their children. 1.4 million people are currently waiting for a council house, and the cost of buying and renting a home in the private sector is beyond the reach of most young working people. Only UKIP cares about the young generation and wants to help them make a good start in life. Vote for me on 5th May and I will make a real difference in Walcot & Park North.
Jeff Jefferies – Wroughton & Wichelstowe 4th 11.6% 258 votes I was born and bred in Swindon and was brought up in the Penhill area. My views have always been to look after local resident’s wishes and I am hoping to be able to help local people in the fight against any further solar panel farms around Wroughton. Further developments in the Wichelstowe area means that I could work with local residents to ensure future road developments are suitable for purpose and also to ensure the proper landscaping of sites in the new Wichelstowe areas.
