News Archive
Mark Formosa returns to the campaign in Wellington
Aspiring Conservative MP Mark Formosa was given a warm welcome when he returned to the campaign trail in Wellington over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Mark Formosa, whose mother died earlier in the week, had not been able to campaign in the town for some time while he stayed at his mother's hospital bedside.
Mark Formosa campaign team spokesman John Thorne said: "It was a very emotional occasion when Mark came back to Wellington and was greeted by so many supporters who all expressed their condolences.
He has been through an awful experience, but Mark understands that the election is still happening on Thursday and that he needs to try to concentrate on winning as many votes as possible between now and then.
This is a once-in-a-generation election where people will actually be voting for a Government and not just for a local MP.
If the polls are to be believed, the public face a clear choice between electing a decisive Conservative Government to give the country direction, or creating a weak hung Parliament where loony Left policies such as an amnesty for illegal immigrants can be pursued.
Taunton Deane holds the key to changing Britain because we are a highly marginal constituency where even a handful of votes can make a big difference.
Mark Formosa and the Conservatives need to win here to form a Government stop Gordon Brown being propped up in No 10 for another five years.
Mark has been one of the hardest-working election candidates in the whole country for the past four years, doing much more than even many MPs have done.
He is a local man with local priorities and is passionate about championing local causes such as the new surgical wards for Musgrove Park Hospital and a new railway station for Wellington."
Mark Formosa launches his election campaign with Michael Gove
Michael Gove, the Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, visited Taunton on Saturday (April 10) to help launch aspiring Conservative MP Mark Formosa ‘s General Election campaign.
Dozens of party supporters joined Mr Gove and Mark Formosa at The Parade end of High Street, where they outshone a smaller gathering of Liberal Democrats who were attempting to launch their campaign at the same time.
They handed out balloons and leaflets to the public explaining how the highly marginal Taunton Deane seat held the key to the General Election result because Conservatives needed to win it if David Cameron was to remove Gordon Brown from No 10.
Michael Gove said: “Only the Conservatives can defeat Gordon Brown, which is why it is so important for Taunton Deane to return Mark Formosa as a Conservative MP.
”Mark Formosa has already proved himself to be an extremely hard-working candidate and so the people of Taunton Deane will be in good and trusted hands with Mark as their MP.
“Mark is knowledgeable and passionate about the issues which matter to local people and I know he will represent them well in Parliament and be influential in a Conservative Government if we win the election.
“Taunton Deane deserves to have a seat at the top table, which is what Mark can bring to the constituency as a Conservative MP.”
Mark Formosa said: “I was overwhelmed by the huge success of our election campaign launch and the numbers of people who turned out to show their support.
“We spoke to a lot of people who said they have been very upset at the way the Liberal Democrat campaign has turned so nasty with unpleasant personal attacks on me in their leaflets.
“They were saying that they do not like such nastiness and that because they know how hard I work to help local people, they are going to vote for me instead, so the tactic is backfiring on the Lib Dems.
“For my part, I will continue to concentrate on letting people know what I stand for and how Conservatives can help them, rather than stoop to such nasty personal attacks on my opponents.”
Wellington Rockwell Green by-election Results
Congratulations to James Hunt who won the Rockwell Green by-election for Wellington Town Council in a very close contest with Labour. While the Liberal Democratsmanaged just half of the votes won by each of the other candidates James Hunt was tied with his Labour opponent on 212 votes. After a recount the election was finally decided on a draw of a polling card by Town Clerk Greg Dyke. See the press release for further details.
Wellington Rockwell Green by-election confirmed
James Hunt was confirmed as the Conservative Candidate for the Rockwell Green Ward By election for Wellington Town Council. His nomination, along with those of the Liberal Democrats and Labour, will see a by-election held on 19th November. The seat was recently vacated by the Conservative councillor Sue Walters who has had to step down for health reasons.
County Council and European Elections
Make a note in your diares as your chance to make a differene comes on 4th June. Conservatives are gearing up to make a real change to the way the County is run with James Hunt and John Thorne standing as your local candidates in the County Council election.
If you have a postal vote please make the best use of it and vote Conservative. If you plan to be away on that day apply for a postal vote and make your vote count. You can get the form from the Taunton Deane Borough Council web site by following this link.
http://www.tauntondeane.gov.uk/forms/postalvoteform.pdf
Don't be Stumped on Election Day!
You don’t have to be in Somerset on June 4th to cast your vote in the County Council and European elections that are taking place then. Just get a postal vote!
Somerset County Cricket Club are playing away at Northamptonshire in the Twenty20 Cup on election day, but the players did not want to miss out on voting. So, earlier this week, Conservative County Councillors and candidates met with the players to hand a postal voting application form to each of them.
Stephen Martin-Scott, Conservative County Councillor for Taunton & Trull was one of those present at the County Ground. “It’s really important to use your right to vote - even if you’re going to be away from home on election day. I’m very pleased to see that Somerset’s cricketers recognise this, and are supporting the democratic process in this way. My near neighbour in Trull, Marcus Trescothick, even filled in his application form at the Ground. That really is recognising how voting is important!”
Asked why postal voting was so crucial, Councillor Martin-Scott said, “The forthcoming elections have never been more important, as they will dictate the future success of this County. The wasteful ways of the current Liberal Democrat administration contrast starkly with the Conservatives’ promise to freeze Council Tax. It only takes 5 minutes to sign up for a postal vote – you can even download the single page form from your local council’s website – and I hope that all in Somerset will do so if they think they might be out of the county on June 4th.”
County Council Candidate for Wellington James Hunt, also present, also reitterated how important it was to have a say and vote on polling day. "It is so important that everyone is seen to take part in the democratic process. Postal voting gives everyone the opportunity to have a say even if your working away, or on holiday on the 4th June."
9th April 2009
Hustings Announced for Wellington
A political hustings has been organised for 7:30 on 16th April in the Wellington Community Centre in White Hart Lane for all members of the public. County Council Candidates James Hunt and John Thorne will be taking questions about Wellington issues along with European Election candidate Don Collier and aspiring MP Mark Formosa.
David Cameron supports Wellington Candidates
David Cameron met Somerset's County Council candidates in Taunton on Tuesday during his visit to the Citizens Advice Bureau. Folllowing a group photogrpah on the steps of Deane House he chatted to the candidates asking questions about the area and their campaigns and offering encouragement.
James Hunt was able to explain that he was one of the few standing against a Labour Councillor and was having to also fend off the advances of the Lib Dems to take a difficult seat.
David deleyed his departure by an hour to be sure he had a chance to talk to the local candidate after getting caught in an accident on the motorway on his was to Taunton.
David Cameron - Centre; John Thorne - Front Left; James Hunt - left of David Cameron; Mark Formosa - Right of David Cameron.
4th February 2009
Police Ride Along A Success
James Hunt, Conservative County Council Candidate for Wellington, recently took part in the Avon & Somerset Police ride along scheme. He spend an informative late shift with PCSO Steve Hill of Wellington police station taking part in patrols, door to door calls and incident resonses.
"It was a very interesting afternoon and I learned a great deal about the work that the PCSO's get involved in" James explained. "The PCSO's are a real part of the community, building up strong links with the people of the area's they patrol and contributing to the effective running of the town.
I am looking forward to working with the dedicated officers in Wellington inthe future if I am successful in my election campaign.
Wellington police station is once again a 24 hour station with police response teams supporting the regular beat officers and PCSO's.
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Drainage Problems Solved
Residents in the Bulls Row and Twyford Place area of Wellington have thanked the town’s deputy mayor, Councillor Janet Reed, for helping to reinstate their access lane. The private lane, which also serves the Wellesley Cinema car park and the rear of some properties in Mantle Street and Martins Close, was dug up and rutted during the construction of a new house.
Despite several assurances by the building firm that a new tarmac surface would be laid, the track remained untouched for more than a year. Mantle Street resident Ken Winhall, whose house was damaged by builder’s lorries, then turned to Councillor Reed for help who contacted the company and obtained a firm promise from the managing director that the tarmac would be laid within weeks.Mr Winhall said: “The surface of the lane is now looking better than I can ever remember it. We are all really grateful to Councillor Reed for taking up the issue and getting the job done after we were let down so many times before.”
Councillor Reed said: “I only live around the corner from Bulls Row so I know quite a lot of the residents there and I could see for myself the way the lane was being ripped up by lorries and vans used for the building work.
“The builders were very helpful once they realised that a town councillor was concerned enough to ring the managing director on his personal mobile phone. It only took one call and they got the job done.
“It is just a pity that the Deane council was not able to protect the amenities of local residents when granting planning permission in the first place.
“If the planners had insisted as part of planning permission on the lane being reinstated then residents would not have had so many months of being bumped around every time they drove in and out.”
Our photograph shows Councillor Janet Reed watching the Bulls Row and Twyford Place lane being tarmaced outside the new house which has been built.
Back to topPlay Area Protests
Families in Wellington are being urged by Conservative Parliamentary candidate Mark Formosa to boycott a sham council consultation on a proposed new play area. Mark is supporting families who have protested at Deane council proposals for an intrusive play area near their homes in Howard Road.
But in a cynical ploy, the council is now trying to play off one set of residents against another in order to force through its plans. The council announced last month it intended to build a large scale play area for young people on the green at Howard Road which would have open access 24 hours a day and which would be left completely unsupervised.However, nearby residents spoke overwhelmingly against the scheme at a recent consultation meeting and suggested instead it would be better located in the Wellington Recreation Ground/Court Fields School area.They were particularly concerned that it would dominate the green and that strings attached to its funding meant it could not be policed by adults and could not be closed at night.However, instead of listening to residents, the council has now prepared a fait accompli consultation process whereby residents in the Howard Road area and also those around nearby Roly Poly Green have to vote for which of the two locations they prefer.
Mark Formosa said: “The council is playing a game of heads we win, tails you lose. In effect, the council is trying to force residents to accept this play area in one of these two locations and nowhere else.“By playing off one set of residents against the other to see who can generate the most ‘votes’, the council will turn around and say they are putting the play area where a majority want it sited, when in reality neither community supports it.
“This is a social disaster waiting to happen. It will be a hugely intrusive play facility outside people’s front doors which may well attract all sorts of unruly and troublesome characters without anybody having any control over what goes on.
“I am shocked by the cynical way the Deane council is trying to manipulate the residents into having this scheme foisted upon them.
“The only way to ‘vote’ in this consultation is not to vote at all but instead to write or email the council to tell them the play area is not wanted in either area.
“While I welcome the idea of such a play area for the young people of Wellington, I strongly urge the council to think again and look for a location which will not impact so dramatically on ordinary people’s everyday lives.”
Our photograph shows Mark Formosa (centre) with Conservative county council candidate for Wellington, James Hunt (to Mark’s right), with some of the Howards Road residents who are protesting at the play area plans.
1st November 2008
Wellington Survey Launched
We have launched a short but important survey of Wellington that will be delivered to every household in the area. The survey asks a series of questions about the quality of life and services in the town and takes just a short time to complete.
If you don't receive a survey form or would like to complete is straight away just follow the link and complete it now on line.
RSS to Swamp Wellington with Houses
Conservatives in Wellington are concerned about recent moves to bloat Wellington with additional housing as Taunton Deane seeks to burden the town with more than its share of housing.
MP for Weston Super-Mare, John Penrose, visited Wellington today to discuss the move to force a unusually large proportion of the governments demand for more housing on Wellington. He met with parliamentary candidate Mark Formosa, Branch Chairman Ken Winhall and Deane Councillor John Thorne County Council candidate James Hunt for a discussion in the issue.
"We are all very concerned about what this means for Wellington" said James Hunt afterwards. "Wellington has been calling for an improvement in infrastructure for some time and cannot cope with additional building until the services and roads links are capable of handling it."
By Election Victory
Congratulations to Kelly Durdan who today learned that she has been elected as Councillor to Taunton Deane Borough Council.
She won the Ruishton & Creech seat with an increased majority over the Liberal Democrats in a two horse race proving that Conservatives in Taunton Deane are delivering the kind of changes people are asking for.
Well done to Kelly from all in the Wellington branch.
Save the Monument Appeal
County Council Candidate James Hunt along with Mr Wallace of Wallace's Farm and Andrew Hunt of Quantum promotions hand over a cheque to ?? of the National Trust after fund riasing efforts at Wallace's farm shop.
At a recent farmers market held at Wallace's form shop, a raffle run by the farm and 'Save the Monument' mugs and t-shirts produced by Quantum promotions, raised £223.71. The money was presented to the National Trust as part of a local fund raising campaign.
'Team Wellington' is launched
Future Conservative Councillors John Thorne and James Hunt joined Taunton Deane's future MP Mark Formosa as they launched 'Team Wellington' in Wellington Park today.
Team Wellington is a new way of conducting local politics where Conservatives want to be seen as a team who can provide a greater breadth of service than the individual approach previously taken.
"This way we can provide a greater degree of flexibility in our support for the community and pool our collective knowledge of local issues" James told us after the launch.