Conservative Jeff Couperthwaite will be hoping the be re-elected after victory in the 2021 Lancashire County Council elections.
In that instance, he won 1,883 votes, beating out Labour’s Chris Lomax into second place on 1,609. The Lib Dem candidate took 161 votes.
This time around, voters can also choose from a Reform UK and Green Party candidate to represent them.
Read more: Mini manifestos for each party ahead of Lancashire County Council local elections
Where is Lostock Hall & Bamber Bridge?
The division, clearly, makes up large chunks of Bamber Bridge and Lostock Hall, making it a simpler map to understand than many electoral divisions.
That said, those who find themselves on Mounsey Road or Church Road in Bamber Bridge will instead be voting in South Ribble East.
The issue around speeding in certain areas of Bamber Bridge has been discussed recently with both Couperthwaite and Labour’s Clare Hunter speaking with residents.
Who are the candidates?
We asked each candidate to provide answers to questions about who they are, why they are standing and why you should vote for them. Candidates appear in alphabetical order.
Only the Labour and Conservative candidates for the area responded to those requests, but we have tried to fill in gaps with campaign materials where possible.
Jeff Couperthwaite (Conservative)
In a few words, tell us about yourself…
Married with three grown- up Son’s, Ex Bank Manager, Ex School Governor, keen Sportsman. Elected to serve as Your County Councillor for my area Lostock Hall & Bamber Bridge four years ago .
Why are you standing?
I’ve lived in the area all my life and went to local schools, as did my children. I became a school Governor at their school too, and over nine years got to see the Education sector in action and how we prepare our kids for the outside world. I saw the County Council as a natural progression .
I’ve loved meeting and helping residents over the last four years , but still much to do, plus many projects I have started that need me to complete.
I have the time & now the contacts to continue to make a difference in my community. I’ll leave national issues to the MPs!
Why should people vote for you?
Local man, living right in the centre of the area. I think people will know how hard I have worked for them and responded to their issues .
I have loved getting things done for residents, including roads & paths resurfaced, Children helped to move schools, Adults helped with social services and libraries supported! I’ve worked steadily with local police dealing with issues like Speeding, Parking & Anti-social behaviour with some success.
Residents know I will be honest with them if I can’t get there issues resolved immediately, & explain why not. I explain where our £1.2bn budget is going.
I am highly visible via Facebook and update residents on issues raised regularly . For those not on social media I deliver the ‘Community News ‘ three times per year.
I’m no politician, parachuted in from elsewhere- I live here! I will be honoured to serve you for another term if re-elected and complete what I have started.
Simon Gummer (Reform UK)
We were unable to get a full response from Mr Gummer relating to the questions that we put to candidates.
The Reform UK South Ribble page has spoken about Lancashire County Council’s pothole problems and the need to address alleged waste of your council tax money.
They have also spoken about asylum seekers being placed in South Ribble and how they would work to prevent it.
Clare Hunter (Labour)
In a few words, tell us about yourself…
I have lived in Bamber Bridge for over 40 years. I went to school here, brought my children up here, went on to run two businesses here and I am a very passionate person, when it comes to fighting against injustice, deprivation, and working with people to live better lives
This has always been in my personality and my past careers of managing two women’s refuges and working at Foyer, with young people, is testament to how and why, I fight against injustice.
Why are you standing?
I have been a local councillor for nearly four years and I am also the cabinet member for Leisure and Wellbeing [at South Ribble Borough Council]. In both my roles, I get to work hard with the community on solving problems.
Living in the area, I am well aware of the problems faced, whether it is deprivation, housing issues, ASB or other. On deprivation I have full knowledge of how our council can help to reduce poverty or help people, whether this is through our grants offered at the council to help with heating problems, insulation problems, or dealing directly with Housing Associations on behalf of our residents.
In my role as cabinet member, I have been instrumental in the decarbonisation of our four leisure centres, have also worked hard towards refurbishing our Leisure Centres and gyms, the work is actually commencing now.
Why should people vote for you?
My track record speaks for itself self, I am local, I know the local issues and the local people. I make myself available to all and work closely with resident action groups. We have passionate, strong people in our communities and it is lovely to encourage this. There is nothing I like better.
Unfortunately, there are issues that are out of my remit and come under Lancashire County Council and these are not being addressed or improved and that’s what I want to challenge now. Roads, bus stops, pot holes and one of my pet hates, parking. Voting for me, gives residents a ‘one stop shop’, I will no longer have to redirect people who come to me with issues that fall out of my remit.
Samuel Paul Winterleigh (Green Party) – taken from party materials due to no response
Tomorrow is your chance to send a message to the tired old parties.
Tomorrow you can vote for real hope and real change.
Tim Young (Lib Dem)
We did not receive a response from Tim Young but the South Ribble Lib Dems believe they are the natural home for voters who are ‘disgruntled’ with the Conservatives.
They are campaigning for safer roads, to tackle the ‘pothole plague’ and to support young people and facilities to help them.
When is the vote?
The local elections take place on Thursday 1 May with polling stations open from 7am to 10pm.
We will then have full coverage of the local election results as the counting takes place on Friday 2 May. We should expect to know the overall outcome by Friday afternoon.
I’m not in Preston or South Ribble…
You can see the full list of candidates for each area on the county council website. You can also see our breakdown of the candidates for Wyre, Fylde, Ribble Valley and Chorley.
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