Kenilworth and Southam Liberal Democrats

Ann Blacklock

Ann has lived in Kenilworth for 26 years. She is married to Rob, and they have two grown-up sons.

Ann has been a Kenilworth town councillor for Abbey ward for nine years, and district councillor for the last four years. As a member of the Liberal Democrat ruling group on the District Council, she is very proud that it was awarded the very rare EXCELLENT rating by the national Audit Commission.

She has spent her first term on the District Council specialising in Environmental and Development/ Planning issues. She enjoys working on the Equalities and Diversity programme; and listening to young people and including them in the considerations of the Council.

Ann has been an active governor of Priors Field School for eleven years, and serves on the management committee of the Youth and Community Centre. She is a prominent member of the new Safer Neighbourhoods Panel, working in close liaison with Kenilworth Police.

She lists the main highlights and achievements of her current four-year term as being: campaigning for the Castle Farm skateboard park; the new allotments at Beehive Hill; the re-development of central Kenilworth; and bringing the Citizens Advice service back to Kenilworth - BEFORE these ideas became mainstream accepted thinking.

Ann says:

"I am delighted that Kenilworth is moving into the 21st century with new buildings and facilities, but we also need to modernise our institutions and the way we represent people - to ensure that ALL sections of the community are heard, not just those who shout loudest and know how to manipulate 'the system'. Equally, in an ambitious and prosperous town, there are instances of hardship: many people not sharing in the general affluence, whom we must not forget and who need real support."

Kate Dickson

Kate is married to Richard, and they have three daughters all attending schools in the town. A Kenilworth resident for sixteen years, she is an active member of the local community. She is a past chair of St John's School PTA and of the Kenilworth Ladies Circle, and now enjoys helping to organise a Toddler group at St. John's Church. She works part-time at Warwick Hospital as a Midwife.

Kate says that it is important that councillors are in touch with the residents they represent, in order to identify the needs of the community. She is happy that Kenilworth is a thriving town with many people wanting to make it their home, and believes that decisions about future developments in the town should maintain this position in the district.

She is proud of the town's schools which provide excellent education for our young people, but says that we need to ensure that these young people are supported in activities outside school so that vandalism and anti social behaviour is minimised.

Kate wants to see better facilities for older and disabled residents, including improved transport links and parking in convenient car parking areas away from residential streets. She welcomes the new proposals for parking meters in town centre residential streets.

Kate says:

"We are all aware of the problems associated with increased traffic in the area. I am keen to support proposals for cycle paths and improved transport links.

Living in such a beautiful area I am also proud of the town's efforts to provide recycling facilities, and would work for this to be monitored and improved.

Sadly, Kenilworth is the only town in the district not yet signed up to the Fairtrade commitment. I would work with other Liberal Democrat councillors to ensure that this position is soon changed."

Pat Ryan

Pat has represented Abbey ward as a town councillor since 1991, and is a former Mayor (1996-97). He is at present Deputy Mayor and Mayor Elect. He is the leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the Town Council.

Pat has taught in Coventry for 32 years, but will retire this summer. He is married to Joan, with two grown-up daughters who were both raised and educated in the town. He and his wife have in the past been foster parents.

He was district councillor for Abbey ward between 1995 and1999.

He is a long standing governor of Kenilworth School.

Pat represents the Town Council on the Town Centre Steering Group and is a member of the board of the Kenilworth Town Centre Partnership.

He has frequently represented the Town Council at Warwick District Council's Planning Committee. He says "It is my high priority to speak up for residents' concerns over planning matters. We have to get the right balance between necessary development and protecting Kenilworth's heritage and environment."

He believes that the electors of Kenilworth need to get value for money from their Town Council. "We have a town council of seventeen while Leamington manages with twelve. A slimmed down council would spend less on administering itself and more on projects for the town."

He has recently initiated a Crime survey in the ward. It confirms that Kenilworth is a relatively safe town and fear of crime is low, but there are concerns about vandalism and graffiti.

"We must make a big effort to use the Safer Neighbourhoods scheme to bear down of the small anti-social minority that are causing some parts of town real distress." He welcomes the new Youth and Community Centre and wants the Town Council to help the new centre become a success.