farelmeson: Local election: All to play for in Ashfield

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Local election: All to play for in Ashfield

ONE of the key issues in Ashfield is reflected elsewhere in the county and country – how will the voters judge the coalition Government after almost a year in power?

But it is particularly pertinent in Ashfield, as it is one of three Notts councils going to the polls which is in no overall control – and with the Liberal Democrats the largest group.

"We're putting forward 33 candidates – the highest number we have ever put forward in Ashfield," said Lib Dem leader Jason Zadrozny.

"I think it's going to be a fierce battle. But we're very hopeful. We will be fighting for every vote and every seat until 10pm on May 5. I think people in Ashfield are yearning for a change. The Lib Dems have not come from nowhere in three to four years by accident. It's happened because people are fed up."

Mr Zadrozny said the party's membership had grown from just seven members to almost 2,500 since 2005.

He said the campaign would be "a two-horse race" between Labour and the Lib Dems.

But John Knight, leader of the Labour group, said the Independent and Conservative Alliance in Ashfield were also likely to be strong contenders.

Mr Knight said the Lib Dems would suffer from having an unpopular Government – a burden his party no longer had to carry.

"This is the first time in 15 years we don't have to fight a government," he said. "We are not having to defend the Labour government anymore. People are talking to us about local issues and not national ones."

Mr Knight said the big local issue was cuts and how they would affect people.

"You can't say you won't cut anything, but we have kept most of the council's staff employed and its services running," he said.

But Mr Zadrozny said voters' dismay at the coalition Government would not influence their decision on a local level.

"I thought we were going to get loads of stick about national politics, but people are being very encouraging," he said.

"I think the turnout is going to be up, because the feeling on the street is quite vibrant."

John Baker, chairman of the Ashfield Conservative Association, said he had stood at every election for 25 years but had never been voted in as a councillor.

"We are going to fight as hard as we can but we don't have high hopes," he said. "But we're going to give it a try."

And Paul Saxelby, Conservative candidate in Sutton-in-Ashfield West, said: "I'm quite confident that I can give the others a run for their money. I live in this area and I'm passionate about it."

The Green Party has put forward four candidates.

For guides to all the local elections in Notts, visit www. thisisnottingham.co.uk/ politics