WESTWARD HO! QUESTION TIME
Westward Ho! question time at the Pier House

Westward Ho! is an amazing costal village in North Devon. As a village it gets many, many visitors per year to it's shores enjoying everything about it. What makes Westward Ho! so special? 

Living in Westward Ho! is no different, most  people can't define what makes the place tick, why it captivates us so much.  Westward Ho! is pretty unique.


We have elections for new Parish and Town Councillors on Thursday 4th May 2023 at both Northam Town Council and Torridge District Council. Westward Ho! is a unique place with unique issues and it's important we get the right Councillors in place to help Westward Ho! thrive.


What better way to get to know your potential new Councillors than an open question time!

Join us on Friday 28th April at the magnificent Pier House Bay Suite where we will be hosting "Westward Ho! Question Time".

Doors open at 6.30pm with a start at 7pm with Peter Sawyer, we will be on the main stage with the candidates that have made the already brave step of putting themselves forward. We want to help you to get to know them better, find out what makes them excited, see their direction, experience their charisma with a relaxed night of questions and answers.

6.30pm Arrive at the Bay Suite (Main function room) at the Pier House, Westward Ho! Just like Rob Braddicks car park, this whole event is also FREE!


7.00pm Welcome and introductions with Peter Sawyer


7.10pm Potential Candidate Introductions with 3 minutes for them to sell themselves to you.


7.30pm Question Time. We will be picking the best questions put forward via Email to ask our potential Councillors. We don't want to catch them out, make them feel uncomfortable but we do want to get to know the people in front of us. Find out more and see what they would do for Westward Ho! to enable you to choose wisely when voting on the 4th May.


8.45 Mingle time. Still not sure? Time to socialize and ask the candidates those final questions before casting your vote next week.

THE CANDIDATES (CONFIRMED)-

Carrie Woodhouse standing in the local elections

NAME: Claire Hodson

STANDING FOR: Northam TC & Torridge DC

REASON FOR STANDING: Wanting to be re elected to continue the great work already started in Westward Ho! and the surrounding area. To continue with the renovations of Westward Ho! Park with even more facilities.

NAME: Roger Tisdale

STANDING FOR: Northam TC

REASON FOR STANDING: To continue his 19 years dedicated service on behalf of the residents of our village and the communities represented by Northam Town Council. He represents the best interests of Westward Ho! by serving on many Committees including; Town Projects, Westward Ho! Park, Planning, Finance and Northam Burrows. He maintains his ambitions always supporting local needs, to reduce traffic speed in the Village, to encourage the promised infrastructure improvements and to find a solution to the unwanted developments blighting the center of Westward Ho

Carrie Woodhouse standing in the local elections
Carrie Woodhouse standing in the local elections

NAME: Louis Bach

STANDING FOR: Northam TC & Torridge DC

REASON FOR STANDING:  I'm putting myself forward as your local Councillor for both Town and District Council. I've been a volunteer Independent Person on Torridge District Council for the last two years serving on both the "Standards" and "Overview & Scrutiny" committees. Please see my election campaign flyers, for more information. 


NAME: Christine Hutchins

STANDING FOR: Northam TC

REASON FOR STANDING: Having volunteered with several local groups, I now feel drawn to serve the community in a wider capacity to ensure that local needs and concerns are heard and addressed. I am keen to ensure that there are facilities and opportunities available to all, regardless of age or ability.

Carrie Woodhouse standing in the local elections
Carrie Woodhouse standing in the local elections

NAME: Derek Sargent

STANDING FOR: Northam TC & Torridge DC

REASON FOR STANDING: I am standing as a candidate for Torridge District Council and for NorthamTown Council.I have served as a Town Councillor the the past four years, the last year as the Deputy Mayor. I want to continue the great work of the Town Council in enhancing the Wellbeing and Community Spirit of the lovely people who live in Westward Ho! I have served on the Planning, Finance, Burrows, Mayfair, Park and the Neighbourhood Plans Committees and am the Community Speedwatch Co-Ordinator for the Town Council Area. 

NAME: Bert Bruins

STANDING FOR: Northam TC and Torridge DC

REASON FOR STANDING: Living in Westward Ho! I know it is a special place. Not only have we got one of the best beaches and coastline in the country, we are also a home for a melting pot of people, some born local, others choosing to move here, retire here and loving it just as much.
Because of a long-standing interest in politics I have attended local council meetings in recent years (via Zoom during Covid) and I am a citizen member of the Climate Emergency Committee. I love the fact that the local park did got saved from being built on and (occasionally) manage to help out as a volunteer.
I am an environmentalist at heart and am very upset about the continued dumping of sewage and slurry in our rivers which amongst many other things threatens the quality of our bathing water.
Two of my other passions are care and housing. I work for the NHS in domiciliary care, helping to get people out of hospital to get care at home as soon as they are ready for discharge. I am fully aware of the plight of family carers, having met so many, who have to look after sick relatives at home, sometimes with with very little support.
I am also upset that so much housing is going up whilst perversely local young people on modest wages cannot find anywhere to rent. With an ageing population, where are the keyworkers going to come from? There is something seriously wrong about our national housing policy and it desperately needs to change.
I have gotten to know many of our local councilors over the past years and I believe they are well-intentioned, of whatever political colour. If elected I promise to work hard for the people of Westward Ho! and will try to work with councilors from across the political spectrum, because team-work matters, especially on a local level.

Carrie Woodhouse standing in the local elections
Carrie Woodhouse standing in the local elections

NAME: KEN HIND

STANDING FOR: Northam TC & Torridge DC

REASON FOR STANDING: I have been been a councillor for 12 years and a Council Leader in the North of England I chose to relocate in Devon to be close to my family. By profession I am a barrister
and now a Chairman of the Football Association Safeguarding Appeals Panel. Locally I am a volunteer on the Appledore Book Festival, member of the Bideford Water Festival organising committee, and helps to raise funds for local charities. As former MP, I served in 3 government departments under Margaret Thatcher and John Major. I pledge my experience in housing,
planning, public order, and local government finance to the service of the residents of Westward Ho ! 
This election is about local issues -"Torridge not Taxes", planning, housing, economic development, bin collection, dog fouling,(I am a dog owner) and provision of social and recreational faciilities. For the last 4 years the Council has been controlled by a rainbow
coalition of "independent" councillors with different agendas with no clear sense of direction or policy. I want to change this, make things better for the residents of Westward Ho!, working in a
team with policy aims and direction. What needs to be done -
1.Keep Council tax as low as possible to provide core services and help with the cost of living.
2. Make sure low cost homes are built for residents on lower incomes, the elderly and disabled. Address the housing crisis in Torridge for young people and those on lower incomes.
Insist where ever possible that 30% of new homes are built for rent or affordable.
3.Tackle the second homes problem in Northam -1 in 4 homes are second homes or holiday lets
Double the Council tax for second homes and help our children on to the housing ladder.
4. Create a Torridge Planning regime fit for purpose, be strong with developers and make them pay towards infrastructure. Make sure the Council has defences to refuse inappropriate planning applications which at the moment they do not – a failure of the last 4 years, strengthen council enforcement.
5. Create jobs encourage business, and tourism. Make sure Torridge has a proper economic development plan and officer support to back it.
6.Use Torridge’s share of the £400 million Levelling Up Fund to improve the area and renovate retail centres.
7.Don’t build homes on council owned car parks or recreational facilities.
8.I will support the Northam Neighbourhood Plan as it effects Westward Ho! because it will give residents a greater say in planning applications supported in a local referendum.
9. Protect the rural and coastal character of the District, the beaches and waterways from sewage discharges and reject inappropriate development.
10. Bring in measures to combat climate change in the District and within the Councils estate.
11. Pressure for more policing resources for Westward Ho! through the Police and Crime Commissioner and work with the police to make the streets safer.
12. Improve our roads working with Devon County Council - tackle pot holes.
I stand to play a part in the community in the area in which I have chosen to live, and make necessary improvement in Torridge District. To be elected is a privilege enabling elected
representatives to serve residents. I will work tirelessly with compassion and dedication to improve the quality of life of all residents of Westward Ho!. I seek your support on May 4 th in the
local government elections.

NAME: Pat Ferguson

STANDING FOR: Northam TC and Torridge DC

REASON FOR STANDING: I am a former Torridge Council Leader, an experienced councillor, married for 43 years to a former Royal Marine, have four children and a stepson. I have worked in various roles, nursing, ambulance service ,patient escort duties, public house ​landlady with busy restaurant and outside catering. In the past I have served on Torridge District Council and Parish Councils and at present am a Director of a Housing Charity and Chairman of a Community Centre.
I stand to play a part in the community and make necessary improvements in Torridge District. To be elected is a privilege enabling elected representatives to serve residents. I will work tirelessly with compassion and dedication to improve the quality of life of all residents of Westward Ho! and stand on the platform set out by fellow candidate colleague, Ken Hind. I seek your support on May 4 in the local government elections. 

Carrie Woodhouse standing in the local elections
Carrie Woodhouse standing in the local elections

NAME: Anmol Singh

STANDING FOR: Northam TC & Torridge DC


TORRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL CANDIDATES

NORTHAM TOWN COUNCIL CANDIDATES

Got a question you would like to ask? Please email your question to peter@visitwestwardho.co.uk where we will pick the best ones.

Remember this whole event is to learn more about our potential Councillors not to trick or catch anyone out. These candidates will be working for the people of Westward Ho! doing a hard, demanding and often thankless  job. We commend them all and wish all of them the best.

Abuse on the night will not be tolerated at all. 
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