Category: Electoral Area

• Uttlesford District Saffron Walden Audley Ward (Councillor)
• Saffron Walden Town Council - Shire Ward (Councillor)

Arthur Coote is a well-respected councillor for Saffron Walden. He was born in the town where he lives with his wife. Arthur is active in many aspects of town life including the Baptist Church. Key interest areas for him are community, equality, youth development and sports.

He’s is a family man who is committed to youth development. Arthur is a director and manager of the Bell Nursery in Saffron Walden and member of the charity Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY). Two of his children have followed him into education as both are head-teachers, and the third has followed a career in law.

Arthur is a lifelong member of Essex Cricket Club and a strong advocate for sports and healthy lifestyles. He’s been active in the funding and design of new playgrounds by Saffron Walden Town Council, and been working to provide more open spaces and sports facilities.

Nationally and locally Arthur has been a long-time supporter of the Labour Party. He was elected as a councillor to Saffron Walden Town Council in 2015 and serves as Mayor for the 2019/2020 year. Like a number of councillors from all the main national parties, he joined R4U in 2019 to create a difference locally.

Arthur Coote says “Over the last 50 years I have taken part in hundreds of campaigns for Labour candidates. I have stood for office to try to create a more equal society and have been a member of the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party. Over the last 4 years it’s become clear that the best way to represent local residents and uphold the ideals I stand for at the district council is by joining R4U. R4U has shown they care about the community’s future and want to create a positive difference for local people. They’ve proven that they are the only party that has the skills and support to deliver for local people. In my mind it’s simple: I will continue to vote for Labour on national issues, but am standing for R4U to deliver local things for local residents. I urge others to vote local Resident for local matters.”

• Great Dunmow Town Council - South Ward (Councillor)

Patrick Lavelle took early retirement after a successful 35 year career in the pharmaceutical industry. His career in the pharma sector gives him a unique perspective into one of our region’s most important industries.

Other areas that interest Patrick are policing and reducing crime, and the issues related to large new housing developments in the area.

As a councillor he works to ensure that new housing proposals are properly scrutinised and development controlled to benefit residents. He believes that it is important to make sure that due consideration is given to the impact on the environment, on the local services (schools, medical facilities and recreational facilities) as well as supporting infrastructure including not just vehicular access but also public transport, cycling and walking access.

Patrick lives in the ward he represents.

• Uttlesford District Broad Oak and the Hallingburys Ward (Councillor)

Where do you live?

I have lived in Birchanger for the last 22+ years with my wife Angie.

Do you have any councillor or political experience?

I served on the Birchanger Parish Council for eight years in the early 2000s until work responsibilities altered my available hours. I am now retired and have been an Uttlesford District Councillor since 2019. I an currently vice-chair of Uttlesford District Council, as I also sit on the scrutiny, governance, and audit committees, highways panel, and housing board.

Any work details that you may want to highlight that add to your experience?

In addition to 12 years as a local councillor, I am a qualified transport manager, with over 30 years of international experience including divisional management for a blue-chip multinational organisation. I have operated my own transport consultancy (compliance and training) since 2009 and am an avid supporter of Road Safety.

Do you participate in community or residents’ groups, boards, or charities?

I was Birchanger’s local Poppy Appeal organiser for 15 years raising approximately £50,000 for ex-servicemen and women. I currently sit on the Birchanger Sports and Social Club committee, as well as on the Freight Transport Association Easton Region Council.

Why did you stand for Residents for Uttlesford?

As residents of Uttlesford, national issues and local issues rarely carry the same weight in our daily lives. Of course, everyone has the right to vote for which person/party they wish, but only locally focused parties can deliver specific local democracy. By providing real, transparent leadership R4U, at a local level is representing our local interests.

By reorganising the way UDC is structured, and by using the best skills and tools available, R4U has been able to deliver higher levels of services. But we need four more years to deliver on our programme of improvement at UDC. Let’s all make sure we make the most of where we love to live – together.

• Uttlesford District Felsted and Stebbing Ward (Councillor)

John has lived in Stebbing for 30 years, and prior to that 10 years in Hatfield Heath, so is very familiar with and supportive of both Ward and District interests. He has served as UDC Cabinet Member for Planning, the Local Plan, Stansted Airport and Infrastructure while appointed also to a number of external bodies. He was privileged to chair the Stebbing Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, whose Plan was passed successfully last Summer. As Cabinet Member, he has been a strong advocate for neighbourhood planning and spoken widely in the community in support. He is particularly interested in heritage and landscape matters and serves as Vice Chair of Stebbing Local History Society. He is a Solicitor and also sits as an Arbitrator.

• Uttlesford District Broad Oak and the Hallingburys Ward (Councillor)
• High Easter Parish (Councillor)

Where you live and how long you’ve lived in the area?

My wife and I have had a home in Uttlesford for more than 20 years. After my retirement in 2012 I became increasingly involved in village, parish and local issues. Prior to this we lived and worked all over the world, including Malaysia, South Korea, Denmark, New Zealand and The Netherlands.

Our three children each have their own families (giving us 5 grandchildren in total) and lead diverse lives. One lives in Kent and works for Kent County Council. One lives in Holland and works in the University of Utrecht Library. One is currently working for Oxfam in Myanmar.

Any councillor or political experience you may have?

I’ve been a UDC councillor for the Broad Oak and the Hallingburys ward since 2019 and at UDC I lead the Economy, Business, Council Strategy and Investments portfolios. I am also a member of the High Easter Parish Council.

Any work details that you may want to highlight that add to your experience?

I am a Chartered Engineer with approximately 40 years of international experience. I worked with Royal Dutch Shell until I retired from them in 2012. For the first third of my career I worked as a Structural Engineer designing, building and maintaining offshore platforms. Thereafter I developed Shell’s system of specifications and standards for all their operations worldwide. In this capacity, I became chair of the committee in an International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) responsible for international standards the oil and gas industry. I maintained this role till mid-2019. I have learned how to listen to very diverse groups and lead the parties to an agreement (a consensus standard).

Are you involved in any community or residents’ groups, boards, charities, or volunteering?

I’m a director, trustee and treasurer of the East of England Apples and Orchards Project (EEAOP). This is a charity, with a trading arm (i.e. under Charities Commission and Companies House), whose aim is the collect and conserve the region’s heritage fruit trees; and get these (re-)planted throughout the region.

I am also a treasurer, and committee member of the Essex Beekeepers Association (EBKA) (Braintree Division).

Why did you stand for Residents for Uttlesford?

I was impressed that in a short time Residents for Uttlesford had already made an impact for our district. In 4 years of leading UDC, we’ve made significant improvements for residents. We need 4 more years to finish the job.

The key point is that R4U is a party for local issues, not national ones. It can therefore be more agile to steer the district council in a direction that residents in the Uttlesford want, rather than as directed by a Westminster-based party.

• Stebbing Parish (Councillor)

Sandi says:

I live in Stebbing with my husband, our two dogs and cat. We moved here nearly 29 years ago with our three children and have counted ourselves very lucky ever since to live in this Ward in Uttlesford and be part of this community.

I have served on Stebbing Parish Council for over 15 years including on most of its committees, chairing and member, the most recent Greener Stebbing which is a new committee. This has and continues to be a most rewarding and enlightening experience. Helping greatly with my understanding of the needs of residents. I was an Uttlesford District Councillor for 4 years, where I chaired the Planning Committee.

I coordinate the Poppy Appeal Collection annually in Stebbing and have been a member of the Stebbing Fete organising committee for many years Having had a career in Education in both secondary schools and colleges I became a governor at a local Nursery & Primary school.

I believe in listening and working with the community, fighting for the rights of residents, and aiming to find the balance between protecting our communities and enhancing our children’s future.

I have long believed that National party politics should not play a part in local democracy. Local issues need to be addressed by a locally focussed party that understands and supports local interests. I believe that R4U is, by reorganising how UDC is structured and using the best skills available. By working together with our communities, we will achieve this.

• Saffron Walden Town Council - Shire Ward (Councillor)

James de Vries has been an Uttlesford resident since 1985, and is an experienced district and town councillor, previously sitting on the UDC Investment Board, and scrutiny and governance committees.

For work he specialises in commercial IT and has a background in aviation working closely with Stansted Airport. In the local community he has spearheaded local business networking initiatives and runs a small sports club in his spare time.

James says “It is important that we retain the natural beauty and heritage of our communities. I’m concerned about the impacts of large housing developments, rural broadband, policing, traffic, and local school places. I’m also keen to tackle the smaller issues that affect quality of life, such as speeding, fly-tipping, travellers, potholes and recycling.“