Spondon Ward Labour Party

10/12/2023

Whilst not always visible on social media, our community representatives have been busy behind the scenes. Ruth Coates of Spondon Labour Party has been relentlessly campaigning for the reinstatement of our much missed Spondon Flyer. Ruth has been asking questions at council meetings and has been in regular contact with Carmel Swann (Labour cabinet member for sustainability and transport).

Please take some time to complete the bus user survey below, and have your voices heard.

https://letstalk.derby.gov.uk/bus-survey-2023

Ruth has asked Spondon Councillors to share this survey, which we believe they now have. Thanks to the efforts of Spondon Labour Party and Labour Councillor Carmel Swann, we stand a good chance of getting our village bus service back.

It should never have been allowed to be withdrawn.

In March 2021, the Government published its vision to support the recovery of bus services post- pandemic through the Bus Back Better: national strategy for England. This includes a requirement for Local Transport Authorities (LTAs), like Derby City Council to publish

05/05/2023

With the majority of results now in across the country, the Conservatives have had quite a wake up call.

Here in Spondon, Pauline, Adrian and Ruth have had a fantastic result! We want to say a huge thank you to every person who voted yesterday. Labour are now over 60% of the Tory vote, up from about 30% in 2019. We are snapping at their heels, and are determined to build on this great result!

We’re really looking forward to spending more time out in the community, and learning about what’s most important to Spondon residents.

Thanks again!

04/05/2023

Just over two hours until the polls close. If you haven’t already voted, there’s still time to have your say. Just don’t forget your photo ID!

Adrian Axtell

I am a resident of Spondon and have lived here for over 15 years. I am a full time Trade Union Officer with Community Union representing members at a national level in both the justice and charitable sectors. Charities such as the NSPCC and CPRE (Campaign for Rural England) are amongst my remit along with many others.

I have been involved in both the Labour and Trade Union movement for many years and previously worked for both Amicus and Unite in my capacity as East Midlands Regional Secretary based on Pride Park.

I believe that Spondon has a lot to offer but am saddened by the loss of local services such as banks and building society's along with the demise of the Spondon Flyer. These impact on local people and I pledge if elected to do all in my power to stop the further decline of our amenities.

Along with this, I believe that more can be done to improve our parks and in particular good play equipment for young children. We can achieve so much more by working with current partners, and build on the good work already being undertaken.

04/05/2023

After voting, Ruth is spending the day with her family. Make sure you have your say at the polls today!

Ruth Coates

Although born and brought up in Sheffield, I have lived in Spondon for the last 23 years. My children were born here, and attended the local schools and various activity clubs in the village.

After taking early retirement from my job as an NHS nurse, I worked for a few years as a volunteer helper at our local primary school. I now help to run a community skills trading organisation and I have an allotment at the Louise Greaves Lane site. I’m sure my bike and trailer full of allotment produce will be a familiar sight around the village.

I am becoming increasingly frustrated by our Conservative led council’s constant failure to recognise and address the ever more apparent effects of climate change, and regularly attend council meetings to challenge them on their poor environmental decisions. One of these poor decisions was to allow our bus service to be withdrawn, with the resultant steady decline in local businesses and increase in traffic around the village, not to mention the isolation of elderly residents. An affordable, reliable public transport system is vital for the health of our residents, our community and our planet.

If elected, bringing the bus service back into council control and reinstating the Spondon flyer will be my top priority.

04/05/2023

“Today, I will be out and about in Spondon, and on the school runs, wearing my rosette to remind people to vote.

This is so important, especially this year, because we won't get another chance to choose our councillors for four more years.

PLEASE USE YOUR VOTE!”

~ Pauline

Pauline Inwood

A Spondon resident for over forty years, I have four daughters who attended Spondon schools and clubs, with grandchildren here too now. I served as a school governor in Spondon schools. Now retired from my work, mostly in education and children’s social care, I devote my time to causes that I deeply care about.

For many years I have been concerned about the effects we humans are having on our world, more recently becoming increasingly frightened for the future because of the ever-worsening climate and ecological crises.

My priority, if elected, would be to ensure that Derby City Council acts on the climate emergency which it declared in 2019. Since then I believe that its actions have not reflected this recognition. I work with Derby Climate Coalition to spread awareness and try to hold the Council to account through regular questions raised at Council meetings.

My practical contributions locally to improving our environment include acting as secretary and tree-planter with Trees for Spondon, and working as a Friend of Spondon Station. As a councillor I would also work to achieve safer, calmer and more healthy streets throughout Spondon, especially around our schools. I would also aim to achieve improved active travel facilities and public transport.

04/05/2023

Voting is open! Don’t forget, you’ll need photo ID to vote today. You can find out more here:

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/voter-id/accepted-forms-photo-id

03/05/2023

Tactical voting is never ideal. But in case this is useful for anyone:

There are more of us, let's show up, set the agenda, and own the future

02/05/2023

Not long to go, Spondon!

Your vote matters.

Vote Labour to cut crime, to cut waiting lists and to cut the cost of living.

Let’s build a better Britain, together.

22/04/2023

Use your on May 4th!

Our three candidates for Spondon, Adrian, Ruth and Pauline, have made the following five pledges.

We pledge:

🚌 To continue the fight to get a good bus service reintroduced for Spondon, as residents across the village have suffered since the loss of the Spondon flyer

🚘 To ensure Spondon streets become safer, healthier and calmer for all of us, especially addressing the issues caused by dangerous traffic at school run times, and by the HGVs driving through the village.

🛝 To work with local groups to ensure further improvements on our parks, especially the provision of good play equipment.

📚 To commit to working with partners to ensure that Spondon library remains open to provide services to the community.

🚊 To encourage more train travel from Spondon, recognising the improving train timetable, and work with partners to achieve a station car park and better bus links.

17/04/2023

Are you voting by post for the upcoming local elections? If so, expect one of these leaflets coming your way very soon.

Use your THREE votes for Labour - Adrian Axtell, Ruth Coates and Pauline Inwood.

09/04/2023

Ruth joined this discussion to talk about the loss of the Spondon Flyer and how it’s impacted our community.

Our village, and many others, deserves an affordable and permanent bus service. A three month trial, with no guarantee of continuation past the elections in May, is simply not good enough.