Meet Gareth Jones: Conservative candidate for Broken Cross and Upton Ward for Macclesfield Town Council
Ahead of the by-election on Thursday April 7, Macclesfield Nub News have requested articles interviewing those standing for the Macclesfield Broken Cross and Upton ward councillor on Macclesfield Town Council, hearing more about their key priorities and what they would hope to get done if elected.
In this article, we met with the Conservative Party candidate Gareth Jones. Gareth has been a self-employed Sales Agent for the past 15 years, and has lived in Macclesfield for 17 years.
Gareth Jones met with Macclesfield Nub News on Kennedy Avenue to discuss his by-election campaign.
Macclesfield Nub News: Why did you decide to stand for election as Broken Cross and Upton ward councillor for Macclesfield Town Council?
Gareth Jones: I was a Town Councillor in Tytherington from 2015 to 2019. But I have always lived in Broken Cross, I stood for it [the Broken Cross and Upton ward] then and didn't get elected. But then as this vacancy has come available I thought I'd go for it, and get a Conservative voice on the Town Council.
Having done it for four years, I loved it. I met people who I wouldn't have normally met, did things I wouldn't have normally done, it was brilliant.
Macclesfield Nub News: What are the major points of your campaign please?
Gareth Jones: Knocking on the doorstep and talking to people, the issues I've had is speeding, potholes, anti-social behaviour and the maternity unit at the hospital - we've got to keep it open.
Wherever you go, potholes is top for most people. I'm continuously reporting potholes [to Cheshire East Council], there's one on Daleside Close which I took a photograph the other day. I've spoke to residents who have said they have reported them, but nothing is happening.
My experience going back to 2015 to 2019, this is what we used to do. The issue with the pothole is not a Town Council issue [Cheshire East Council's Highways Department and their contractor Ringway Jacobs fill them in]. It is my job as a Town Councillor to spot it and report it. But the more people that report them the better.
The other big issue is speeding, when I was a Town Councillor we bought every single ward PCSO a speed gun. I haven't seen a speed gun been used for a while.
Macclesfield Nub News: If I could ask as a follow up. Both of the other candidates have discussed '20 is plenty' in their campaign, so could we ask where you stand on it please?
Gareth Jones: It is a Labour term. We've got to keep the speed down. There are places were 20 is great. There are cars when you do 20, and it is not good for the environment. But you've got to drive to the occasion [the area] that sort of thing, that's what I feel.
Macclesfield Nub News: Above all, what are the major issues facing the Broken Cross and Upton ward?
Gareth Jones: It is all of what I've said. Potholes, speeding, ASB. We need to get people to go out and enjoy the town and not worry about the hassle. And it needs the PCSO's to be around to keep an eye on what is going on.
Macclesfield Nub News: How would you propose to support businesses in the ward, and the town's overall economy if elected?
Gareth Jones: I'm going on about 2015 to 2019 [Gareth's time in office], but the Barracks Mill development. There's nothing we can do about it. I went to the appeal. The Town Council objected. What is going to happen is: Let's say mum and dad goes to Barracks Mill. Dad goes for a coffee, mum goes to M&S Food. They then say 'we won't go into town', because they can't be bothered as they've been down there for an hour. So we need to get people into the town centre.
Whether that is through car parking - which I know Cheshire East are responsible for - putting an hour-an-a-half or two hours free on it. We need to get people into town.
Marks and Spencer moving out [of Mill Street] I could say is a disaster. There's nothing we can o about it. I as a Town Councillor can shout as much as I want, but there's nothing I can do about it. But what we can do is encourage more people into the town, encourage more business, diversity. The café culture is obviously growing in town. Get a few people living in town. I love the feel around Market Place and Pizza Express, I think it is great round there.
When I was a Town Councillor we had the Food Festival in town. It is getting people in to see things like that. The Treacle Market is fantastic, but it is very, very busy. You've only got to look at the coaches bringing people to the area but that is only once a month. We've got to have reasons to get people into town.
I was the compere for the Christmas Lights in 2018. It was absolutely brilliant and we had thousands of people in the town square.
Macclesfield Nub News: What would you say is the biggest issue facing Macclesfield in the future?
Gareth Jones: The future of the town town centre. I know I'm going on about it, but we've got to get people to use it. We've got to get them to not go down to Handforth Dean or Manchester. With the facilities we've got, we can attract people from outside the area.
Macclesfield Nub News: What's your favourite thing about Macclesfield please?
Gareth Jones: We're so close to the Peak District, so close to Manchester and just an hour and 45 minutes to London. We've got such nice people, being able to and have a wander in town and say hello to people is great. I tend to support the independent coffee shops in town. I normally go to The Hope Centre [on 16-18 Park Green] or Coffee Traders [on Chestergate]. I also used to go to Velo a lot as well.
Macclesfield Nub News: There are no Conservatives currently on Macclesfield Town Council, despite our town having a Conservative MP. They came last in last May's Central Ward by-election. Why do you think they haven't been as popular with voters?
Gareth Jones: Because in May 2019, it was Brexit and everything else. If we'd have had the local council elections in December 2019 [during the General Election which the Conservatives won] we probably would've been elected. People were fed up.
I was talking to someone yesterday and she said to me 'I won't vote Conservative'. I asked 'Reason why?' and she said 'because of what is going on in national government'. But I said back 'hang on, I am not going to get political, this election is about local issues. It is not about what is going down in Central Government', and she understood. And that is what we've got to do.
Macclesfield Nub News: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Gareth Jones: Thanks. I'd just like to say a bit more about me. It was an honour and privilege to be elected in 2015 as a Town Councillor, I worked hard for the town and was selected in 2019.
I volunteered at Macclesfield Town FC. And with the Town Council helped organise the celebration bus when they won promotion to League Two.
I also volunteered with the new Macclesfield FC up until two months ago, when I decided to focus on this election coming up.
My overall attendance at meetings was 97% [and 100% in 2017/18]. I put 100% in everything I do, a philosophy that has worked all my life.
Macclesfield is a fantastic place with much to offer now and in the future.
Macclesfield: You can learn more about Gareth's campaign here.
[I]We have also interviewed the other candidates for the Green and the Labour parties.
See Also: Why is Macclesfield Broken Cross and Upton ward having a by-election?.
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