As we get closer to the local elections this Thursday 6 May, Macclesfield Nub News have requested articles interviewing all three candidates for the Bollington Central Ward councillor on Bollington Town Council, hearing more about their key policies and what they would hope to get done if elected to serve.

Gareth Williams (72) is running for the Liberal Democrats. Gareth is a retired Freelance IT specialist, who has been a Liberal voter all his life. It is his first run for political office.

Gareth has been a Bollington-resident for the better part of 40 years. His children went to St John's and Tytherington schools, where he was a school governor across several years.

He has always been involved in charity work, but now works for Oxfam's online shop - even during the pandemic.

He believes strongly in cooperative ways of working to get the best results from an organisation such as the council. If elected, he would bring those values and hard work to the existing team, to help preserve and develop our town and its lovely environment.

Macclesfield Nub News: Thank you for speaking with us today regarding your campaign. Why did you decide to stand for election as Bollington Central Ward councillor for Bollington Town Council and what do you think you can bring to the role?

Gareth Williams: "I'm retired as is obvious from my age and I've got the time. I volunteer half of my time at Oxfam with the online shop there, but then I thought well I could give more back in a more local way. So give something back to Bolly - it has been my home for over 35 years.

"I would work for all wards in Bollington, not just Central Ward, as many of the issues are the same through the town and a coherent approach is vital - but of course responding particularly to those in Central Ward as their councillor.:

Macclesfield Nub News: What are your key policies?

Gareth Williams: "Clearly protection of the greenbelt is a very big issue for this area - and then managing a transport policy that works for people here. Safe transport for young people and older people, a convenient policy, a policy that gets you to Macclesfield and places beyond as needed. But with minimal damage to the environment - so we need to be that thinking of integration of transport and the environment going on.

"My key policy leaflet also mentions equality, diversity and inclusion. These are an instinct for a Lib Dem, it is how we live and breathe. We are socially the most liberal of all the parties. We enjoy diversity and including people for their different skills so that defines me as a liberal".

"And of course Bollington 2030, it is a target which I will come onto later."

Macclesfield Nub News: What do you think the biggest issue facing Central Ward and Bollington is?

Gareth Williams: "Central Ward and Bollington have the same biggest issue facing it, in my opinion. Overall it is housing needs, connected with the environment and the greenbelt - the interaction between those."

"It is a problem from being such a great place to live. Bollington has made the top spots in national surveys as of places to live and that brings a lot of pressure from people wanting to be here.

"In Central Ward terms, I'd also add traffic into the mix. The narrow lovely little streets are not built for the car. So when we go around to speak to people, they often say 'what's the big problem - car parking'. That is both resident parking and but parking to encourage visitors to Bollington's high street - particularly when we get back to happier times away from COVID and they will need their custom.

"Hopefully, if I get elected people will not be backward in coming forward with their issues."

Macclesfield Nub News: Your associate Cllr Jo Maitland, currently Deputy Mayor, becomes Mayor of Bollington next week. Congratulations to her. What does this say about the popularity and effectiveness of Lib Dems in Bollington to implement policies?

Gareth Williams: "I think part of it is that it shows that the consensual approach to politics of the Lib Dems works. Lib Dems are about consensual politics a lot of the time, it is about working with people, which of course was to our disadvantage nationally in coalition with the conservatives in 2010 that Labour never forgave us for. (But that is not really for this topic).

"The consensual approach [where there is a general agreement on an issue between the major political parties, with the Lib Dems involved] … what I hear from a number of people is that the idea of just getting on with the issues gives the Lib Dems a good reputation."

Macclesfield Nub News: Please could you tell me more about your 20mph policy and what are some roads in Bolly that you'd like to be seen reduced to 20mph?

Gareth Williams: "There are some traffic observations going on at the moment. Obviously I haven't got the analysis from that [regarding all the specific roads]. But the main road in Bollington has suffered from the increased population on newer builds on the edges, they come through into the town and the parking there in combination with that is quite hard work. So that is an obvious candidate all the way through pretty well.

"And roads anywhere near shops and schools, reducing the 20mph speed limit will lead to a safer environment.

"Certain roads like High Street, Church Street that go through the central ward would actually benefit from a mandated 20mph rule in my personal opinion.

"Bollington has many old lovely little old streets and even 20 miles per hour is too fast. People aren't stupid you know you can only do walking pace down a side street - but there are some where enforced 20 might be a good idea. I don't know the detailed planning that is inside the council but those would be my targets."

Macclesfield Nub News: Regarding the environment, what are some greenbelt areas you are seeking to protect and why?

Gareth Williams: "The two that are in the public domain that I'm seeking to protect - and I'm not privy to council discussions on future plans and pressures to this sort of thing - but the current two are the Henshall Road area and the main road going through and on the top there there is an area that might be used. However, that is at the top of a steep hill with schools below it, so building there would increase flood runoff to the schools below.

"And then there is the area around Greenfield Road that's difficult to get at - and I believe there is a problem with a sewer underground that wasn't taken into account by Cheshire East. So there was a lot of pushing back from the Town Council."

Macclesfield Nub News: What are some Bollington 2030 climate initiatives you are hoping to implement?

Gareth Williams: "I'll try to run through what I know of the plan for it, and what I have seen of them from the council they are very much the flavour of the month for me. It is fine.

"First of all, Bollington has declared a climate emergency. It is pledging to make Bollington carbon neutral by 2030, so that's production in factories, transport and consumption by users. That includes things like home fires and such.

"The council is going to ask Cheshire East, Macclesfield as a parliamentary constituency, and straight through to the government to try to get resources so that they can actually do it. And that is part of the problem. The government hasn't been that generous to local areas to help them to what they need to do in this respect. So we'll see what happens. And clearly, if elected, that would be an area that I would be helping to fight."

"Working with other councils around the UK and even internationally to coordinate our council leaders in some sort of co-operative movement shall we say to get the warming down - strategising plans to achieve that

"Looking at all policies saying … yes…. let me tidy that up a bit. Look at all the policies that we are actually dealing with and see from the viewpoint of global warming. We take global warming as a way to look at the policies we take.

"There is a requirement on the people doing this work, to report to the full council within six months."

Macclesfield Nub News: Do you find anything particularly disagreeable with your other candidates that you would wish to highlight?

Gareth Williams: "I don't see anything to disagree with, what I do find surprising is that I have seen the Conservative party leaflet, and it seems to be an attack on Cheshire East rather than about the town itself.

"And I would really like to hope that consensual politics is the order of the day. Attacks are appropriate at national level. I've protested loudly enough in my time and I have been on several marches in London shouting, but it isn't appropriate at parish level. That sort of stuff should stay outside the door so we can get on with the job."

Macclesfield Nub News: Is there anything in particular that you think the current administration isn't doing a good job on?

Gareth Williams: "I feel pretty content that if I am elected, I will be joining a team that is already doing a very good essential job. The vibes I get are good.

Macclesfield Nub News: Finally, a fun question. What is your favourite thing about Bolly and why?

Gareth Williams: "Obviously having lived here for 35 years there are many hundreds, but I've got a couple of favourite pubs. One of them on my doorstep - The Bulls Head - provided excellent Spanish tapas to takeaway during lockdown. They've all supported the community in different ways, and the landlady of one of them of course is standing in [East Ward] as an Independent.

"Additionally, it is the ability to say to my wife after our evening meal - let's go for a walk. You can go for a walk here for half an hour, or for four hours. And on top of that, you've got the ability to go to Manchester without great effort - and it is all these combined why Bollington tops lists like The Sunday Times Best Places to Live."

Gareth is running against Judy Snowball for Labour, and Barrie Malpas for the Conservatives.

A full leaflet detailing Gareth's politics can be seen at online.

Gareth is contactable at [email protected].