On Monday, a recount will take place for the Winton East ward. Conservatives are contesting the nine votes which separate Simon Bull, the Green Party candidate and their candidate, Theo Stratton.
Local Greens remain on tenterhooks awaiting the result. They know that this breakthrough may well set a precedent and pave the way for many more Greens to show what hard working councillors can do for the community.
If the count stands, Bournemouth will have its first ever Green Party councillor but Simon’s task could be an uphill struggle. In this crazy, first past the post voting system that we have Labour and Liberal Democrat voters are no longer represented in the council and at the time of writing opposition has been reduced to two.
However, the council won’t be getting just a single Green councillor, but the full force of the local Green Party whose membership has swelled to over 500 in the last year and following the national trend, continues to grow. MP Caroline Lucas’ increased her majority by 11% and the Greens have so far gained 17 extra council seats – hopefully soon to be 18. With over a million votes, more parliamentary candidates also retained their deposits, including both Bournemouth West and East candidates.
What can the people of Winton expect from a Green councillor?
Firstly, they would get a councillor who lives in their ward, a councillor who knows the concerns of local people because they are his concerns, too. He feels it is vital that students are included in the community and issues that prevent this happening need to be addressed. He has highlighted the need for a licensed landlord scheme to address poor standards of privately rented accommodation. This would clearly benefit both local residents and students. Looking at ways to make the University’s warden scheme more effective is another of his goals.
Secondly, they would get a councillor who cares passionately about the environment. He says that making the roads safer for cycling would encourage more people to change their form of transport meaning fewer cars on the roads, less congestion and lower levels of pollution. Fewer cars also mean that roads would last longer leaving more money in the council pot to repair all those potholes.
Who is Simon Bull?
Simon has lived in Bournemouth since 1998 and in Winton for the last ten years.
‘I only came for a short visit. It was never my intention to stay but I met my wife, Jane, and have been here ever since.’
Since moving here he has played an active part in the local community. From initial volunteering work he went on to become one of the founders and then chief executive of the charity Vita Nova, a community education project which supports people through arts based workshops.
If the count stands, he will be supported by his wife of thirteen years, his children and the local Green Party.
‘I would like to thank all those who have helped in the run up to the elections and all those who voted Getting this far has been a team effort.’
For the sake of democracy we do not need any more blue seats in the local council. Everyone deserves to be represented at both local and national level.
Rachel Williams
