Category Archives: Election

LibDems and Greens step aside for Independent Candidate Nikki Barton for Haslemere County Seat

Local elections will take place in Haslemere on 2nd May 2019 for town council, borough and county council elections.

When you go to vote you’ll be given three ballot papers, three different colours for three different elections.

Surrey County Council by-election –

  • Lilac ballot paper
  • You have one vote to choose one Haslemere councillor for Surrey County Council.
  • Make that one powerful vote for one candidate with a track record – Nikki Barton.
  • The seat is vacant due to an absentee Conservative councillor. The Haslemere Herald reported on this. More here.
  • The Lib Dems and Greens locally have agreed not to contest this Haslemere seat.

“Rather than put forward our own candidate, we have decided to stand aside and give Independent Nikki Barton a free run in the hope that she can win again. Before doing so, we asked Nikki to confirm that, as County Councillor, she would fight any cuts to Haslemere Library and she was happy to do so. So, with that assurance, we’re backing Nikki and are confident she will again be an excellent representative for Haslemere on Surrey County Council”. John Leston, Haslemere Liberal Democrats.

“With the forthcoming Surrey County Council By Election in Haslemere on 2nd May, we have decided not to stand a candidate but rather support Nikki Barton in becoming a councillor. Nikki has a proven track record as an outstanding Independent county councillor, she fully supports the principles of sustainable development and has for example taken the initiative to set up projects that promote more sustainable transport.  Furthermore, in backing Nikki the aim is to avoid splitting the vote.  You can find out more about her campaign via http://www.haslemerefirst.com/ and we urge all local residents to vote for her”. Dr Susan Ryland, Guildford and Waverley Green Party.

Haslemere Town Council, Haslemere South ward

  • Salmon pink ballot paper for all town council seats.
  • You have four votes to choose four Haslemere Town Council councillors for Haslemere South.
  • You do not need to use all four votes.
  • Since the 2015 Haslemere Town Council election, two Conservative councillors quit mid-term and one had a poor attendance record in the Haslemere South ward
  • Please ensure you use one of your Haslemere South votes to re-elect Nikki Barton to represent you.

Waverley Borough Council

  • White ballot paper.
  • There are no Independent candidates.
  • A list of all candidates will appear in The Haslemere Herald today.

In the spirit of cooperation, here are links showing which Lib Dem and Green candidates are standing in different wards for the town council and borough council elections.

These are the Lib Dem candidates for Haslemere seats

These are the Green candidates for Haslemere seats

Surrey Residents are dissatisfied with road maintenance

This is a shocking stat (i):

When I was Haslemere’s Surrey County Councillor (2013-2017), I did not only fall back on the online reporting system and wait for potholes to be repaired. Rather, I worked with the highways team to negotiate funds for proper road repairs especially where the potholes were potholes on potholes. I also did regular cycle tours of the town to report potholes.

Here are a few examples of how my intervention helped directly with road repairs:

Funding from Waverley Local Area Committee was found to repair the following roads (ii)

• Sturt Road – £22,900 (including drainage repairs under the railway bridge)

• Lower Street at the junction with Sandrock – £23,367

• Kings Road near the entrance to The Herons leisure centre – £19,730; and

• High Lane – £14,217.

I arranged a full repair of a potholed section of College Hill (iii)

I arranged a full repair of the road outside St Bartholomew’s School. This road was unadopted but I felt it was important to repair the road – it was in a state of poor repair and it fronted a local authority school. I had discovered that the then Leader of the Surrey County Council had enabled a road repair in his constituency outside a state school and I used this as a precedent in my negotiation.

Following extensive discussions with SCC highways Wey Hill was fully resurfaced.  It was surprising to discover that Wey Hill was not included in the major Project Horizon road repair program. I worked with the Surrey County Council Highways team who agreed that the extremely poor condition of the road warranted a full repair. (iv)

If elected again, I will continue to do road surveys with SCC Highways and I will do my best to be innovative about getting potholes repairs.

Haslemere Town Council Candidate Profiles

The Haslemere Herald this week has a summary of all the candidates for the Haslemere Town Council election on 2nd May.

As well as standing as an Independent candidate for the Surrey County Council (Haslemere ward ) by-election, I am also standing for re-election as an Independent councillor for the Haslemere South ward of Haslemere Town Council.

Here is my statement printed in this week’s Haslemere Herald with my campaign photo.

Nikki Barton Campaign Image 2019

Nikki Barton  – Independent


Nikki Barton has been an Independent councillor for Haslemere South for the last two years and will be standing again in May. She lives in the ward with her husband and three teenage daughters.


As well as leading a successful campaign to stop parking meters in the town, Nikki is a founder member of the Haslemere South Residents’ Association. She has also brought together many community organisations in her role as Chair of the Haslemere Community Rail Partnership. Nikki will fight inappropriate development of our precious countryside. She advocates sustainable transport.


As a councillor and community volunteer, Nikki has consistently delivered results for the town without the constraints of party politics. 

She will continue to put Haslemere first.

Read about Nikki’s campaign updates and activities here:
Web: www.haslemerefirst.com
Twitter: @votenikkibarton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HaslemereFirst
Message Nikki on nikki@haslemerefirst.com

Candidate Profile for SCC By-Election for Haslemere on the Democracy Club Website

I have uploaded my candidate profile for Surrey County Council’s by-election for Haslemere on 2nd May 2019 on the Democracy Club website.

You can read it via this link: https://candidates.democracyclub.org.uk/person/55186/nikki-barton …

Nikki Barton Campaign Image 2019

Surrey County Council is responsible for so much that affects our daily lives – social care, health, highways, schools & learning, libraries, waste and recycling. Budgets are being slashed. Key services are under threat. Haslemere needs a councillor to show up and champion our town.

When I was County Councillor (2013 – 2017), I threw myself into the role with energy, and a deep commitment to serve the community with passion, transparency and engagement. I worked hard, listened and built trust.

Here are some of my achievements: www.haslemerefirst.com/achievements.
If elected again as your Surrey County Councillor,

· Haslemere will regain an independent voice at county level – community before politics
· I will promote openness and transparency – I believe in the power of accountability
· I will fight for Haslemere’s fair share of those scarce resources

By submitting your postcode, you can view biographies of all candidates for this by-election.

Results – Haslemere Town Council by-election – June 2017

Haslemere South Ward Results

Electorate 2,992

Total Ballot Paper 2,322

Turnout 77.61%

 

Nikki Barton – INDEPENDENT – 1161 (elected)

Simon Paul McMillan Dear – CONSERVATIVE – 1040 (elected)

Maria Mateo – INDEPENDENT – 777

Paul Anthony Croshaw – LABOUR – 317

Ashleigh Edwina Stafford Deane – CONSERVATIVE – 1020

 

THANK YOU to everyone who voted for Nikki and Maria. Congratulations to Simon Dear.

Maria and Nikki campaigning today in the High Street

Maria and Nikki here. We enjoyed campaigning in the High Street this morning with supporters.

We had a mixed range of comments about being independent candidates and standing for the town council.

Ziggy can’t vote. Here’s Ziggy supporting Maria and Nikki with a white rosette.

I’ll be supporting those independents – it’s just not healthy to have all that party politics in a town council.

I like the sound of those two – pity I didn’t register to vote, I will for next time.

I have voted already by post. You both got my vote.

I’m crossing my fingers to hope they do get elected. We need them on the town council.

I’m in Shottermill but I would vote for those independents if I could.

I live in Courts Hill Road and I love the new lighting in Sandrock that I read about in your leaflet. So my wife and I voted for you.

There should not be party politics at local level.

We’ll be out campaigning again tomorrow and we look forward to meeting more voters.

On 8th June

you have TWO VOTES

for

TWO SEATS

for

TWO INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES

for the

Haslemere South Ward in the town council election.

#VoteMateo #VoteBarton #VoteIndy

Meet Maria Mateo – your Independent candidate for Haslemere South Ward

Maria Mateo will be standing as an independent candidate for the Haslemere South ward in the upcoming Haslemere Town Council by-election on 8th June.

More about Maria Mateo here …

My name is Maria Mateo and I moved to Haslemere in 2007 with my young family. I have 3 boys. Before I moved to Haslemere, I worked in The City as a solicitor.

I started volunteering for Citizens Advice in Haslemere in 2009. I’ve also been a driver for the Orchard Club and I’ve been involved with the charity, Haslemere First Respondents. I’ve also been involved with a number of the sports clubs through my children – rugby, football, cricket. I was very actively in the campaign against the parking metres in Haslemere.

I think it is important to listen to the residents and express their views in the town council because some residents don’t feel they’re listened to. I think it is also important to report to the residents and be open and transparent about everything that is going on in the town council.

Delivering leaflets today – Haslemere South Ward HTC by-election – 8th June

Message from Maria Mateo and Nikki Barton: We began delivering our Haslemere Town Council campaign leaflets on Saturday and then stopped campaigning due to the Manchester attack.

Today, we resumed campaigning with a team of great volunteers in Haslemere South sharing the work by helping us deliver our campaign leaflets.

Do let us know if you have a few spare hours to help support our campaign. #VoteIndependent