Gornal News & Goings On

NEWS

Local Elections 2003 Update 2/5/03: Labour scrape win in Gornal Ken Finch clung onto his Gornal Ward seat on Dudley Council last night seat - by just 17 votes on a 30% turnout. In a similarly tight battle last year the Conservative Candidate Anne Millward pipped Ken's colleague, Deputy Mayor Jeff Jewkes. First reaction comes from the Conservatives, whose spokesperson Jim Plumb told Yampy: "Gornal has been a hard fought ward for thirty years and this was a notable effort." In Dudley generally it was a bad night for Labour, who lost seven seats together with overall control of the Council. The Conservatives now have 31 seats, Labour 30, and LibDems 10. In a worrying development for the major parties, the BNP also gained a seat in Dudley as well as neighbouring Sandwell. Gornal Ward results 2003 Ken Finch Labour 1895 Stephen Marsh Conservative 1879 Michael Jones LibDem 395 Spoilt 22 * * * 30/4/03 On Thurday May 1st the local elections for Dudley Council will take place. As far as Gornal is concerned, the choice is between the defending Councillor Ken Finch (Labour), Michael Jones (LibDem) and Stephen Marsh (Conservative). This article was first published a couple of weeks ago and we have been updating it as and when political parties have shown an interest in our own front door or letterbox. Yampy lives in Upper Gornal, a couple of hundred yards away from both Conservative and Labour headquarters. Have we had a visit from either candidate or their representative? Been invited to a lively public debate on the local issues that matter? Heard tannoy announcements from slow cars driving round the ward? Not a whisper. As for the LibDems, even a leaflet seems too much trouble. Our politicians will be quick to complain of voter apathy when the inevitable low turn-out occurs tomorrow. If they set an example and injected some enthusiasm of their own into the campaign, perhaps we might all start to feel part of the democratic process once more. * * * 11/4/03 The first literature to fall through Yampy's door was from the Conservatives. Stephen Marsh , of 21 Rock Street Upper Gornal, asks for our support in his attempt to oust the sitting candidate and join Tory colleagues David Stanley and Anne Millward. Stephen was born and educated in Gornal, and is married with a 14 year old son. He has served on the Governing bodies of two Gornal schools. In last year's Gornal vote, Cllr. Millward won a slender victory against former Deputy Mayor Jeff Jewkes (click here) , so a competitive battle looks likely on this occasion. We'll pass on the run down on Labour and the LibDems as soon as it drops through the letterbox. Update 14/4/03 Tonight we received the Labour literature, a glossier affair than the Conservative's leaflet. It re-introduces Dudley-born Ken Finch, who has lived in Gornal for over 45 years and has represented the ward for most of the last 24 years. A member of various Council committees, Ken is also Chair of Ruiton Mill Trust, a trustee of the Black Country Museum and a governor of Redhall School. If re-elected, he says he will continue to fight for the well-being of all Gornal's residents. Update 21/4/03 The Conservatives have now delivered their 'glossy affair' through our door, giving more details about candidate Stephen Marsh, who is a Governor of Robert's Primary School, Vice Chair at Ellowes Hall, a self-employed businessman who is 'a strong believer in Christian morals'. Nothing from the LibDems yet though.

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