Who gets your vote in the Shiney Row ward?

With local elections taking place later this week, we profile the candidates in one of the 25 Sunderland City Council wards. Meet the rest of the candidates vying for your vote, on Thursday.
Clockwise from top left Polly Robinson, Sally Oliver, Sally Oliver and Anne Lawson. Sean Terry is not pictured.Clockwise from top left Polly Robinson, Sally Oliver, Sally Oliver and Anne Lawson. Sean Terry is not pictured.
Clockwise from top left Polly Robinson, Sally Oliver, Sally Oliver and Anne Lawson. Sean Terry is not pictured.

Richard Elvin – UKIP

Richard runs the travel business he set up 30 years ago after he left his teaching career. He has over 10 years’ experience as a councillor and was elected to Hetton Town Council last year.

He sees our neighbourhoods neglected and front line services cut, yet Sunderland City Council spends millions on vanity projects and paying huge salaries, allowances and expenses to executives and councillors.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He is fully aware of what is required from a councillor to represent Shiney Row constituents and ensure that improvements to services and the local environment are implemented.

Richard feels one party politics always results in stagnation and apathy and that it’s time for new ideas and initiatives. He believes councillors should strive to provide a better life and wants to put an end to “political posturing” where councillors appear more concerned about keeping on their “gravy trains” than representing their constituents.

Anne Lawson – Labour

Having been a councillor since 1988 I have been ever grateful of the trust put in me by the residents of the Shiney Row ward.

As local governments bears the brunt of the government’s austerity programme I believe our communities need experienced and realistic representatives to deal with tough times.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

I am appalled at times by the naivety and dishonesty of some opposition politicians who believe the present can be maintained even in the face of draconian cuts in government financial support.

We have strong, developing and some new communities making up Shiney Row ward. The Labour team will continue to be accessible to residents, face up to reality and promise nothing we cannot deliver.

A strong Labour council is your buffer against a tory world that is emerging day by day and seems determined to end local democracy as we know it.

I respectfully ask for your vote on May 5.

Sally Oliver – Conservative

While the Labour council has reduced the number of staff there are still 75 Councillors.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This is too many. Allowances for these people are now well above £1.4million per year.

This should reduce by 25, with savings being ploughed back into vital services.

Special allowances and expenses need investigating to ensure value for money and that the system is not manipulated.

I would seek accountability from those councillors with special responsibility.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The shameful situation in the failed Children’s Services has not seen any on the councillors involved accept responsibility.

There is collective responsibility from the full council cabinet.

More needs to be done to bring people into the city centre. A meaningful free parking scheme would help but must be done before it is too late.

We need to see more house building in Shiney Row but this must be on brown field sites not on the green belt.

Polly Robinson – Green

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

I’m delighted to have been selected as Green Party candidate for Shiney Row.

I would relish the opportunity to serve the people there and would work to make it a better place to live and work. Shiney Row has been neglected for far too long by our current council.

Local elections are about choosing who will best look after you and your family in your own local area, with issues such as schools, public transport and leisure.

Our current council has a very poor track record in these areas with cut after cut although increasing our council tax; yet they still claim a huge amount of expenses, making them the most expensive council in the North East!

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A Green vote is a vote for making Shiney Row safe, clean and green.

Turn Sunderland Green, because red isn’t working in our city. You can help by voting Green on May 5.

Sean Terry – Lib Dem

I work locally as an ICT technician, and I’m standing to give a voice to those who want an alternative to the Labour-run Council.

Sunderland is never going to be a Conservative-voting city, and we need a strong opposition to the current council.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

After the 2015 general election there was a lot of talk about the “death” of the Liberal Democrats, but here in Sunderland the party has been the loudest political force over the past year – standing up to the council’s negligence and leading the campaigns to save regular bin collections, to stop the ‘brown bin tax’, and to keep lollipop crossing patrols.

I have learned, since joining the party, that there are plenty of Liberal voices in the North East and people who want change.

We can get that change by voting for a strong, active Liberal Democrat opposition on Sunderland council.

Polly Robinson – Green

I’m delighted to have been selected as Green Party candidate for Shiney Row.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

I would relish the opportunity to serve the people there and would work to make it a better place to live and work. Shiney Row has been neglected for far too long by our current council.

Local elections are about choosing who will best look after you and your family in your own local area, with issues such as schools, public transport and leisure.

Our current council has a very poor track record in these areas with cut after cut although increasing our council tax; yet they still claim a huge amount of expenses, making them the most expensive council in the North East!

A Green vote is a vote for making Shiney Row safe, clean and green.

Turn Sunderland Green, because red isn’t working in our city. You can help by voting Green on May 5.