Spencer: Bypass is No1 for me
SIMON Spencer, says he is looking forward to putting his manifesto promises into action in the Dovedale division over the next four years - and top of his agenda remains the Ashbourne bypass.
During his term as the cabinet member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure, the Ashbourne businessman has been at the forefront of the current push for an A515 relief road.
And, he says, being given another four years to work on the project could be all that is needed to get the project over the line.
He told the News Telegraph: “If there’s anybody who has put his heart and soul into the bypass, it’s me. And Steve Bull is very supportive as well, of course.
“We are going to do as much as we can to bring this about as soon as we can. It’s very difficult for me to say when, but we are going to see more detail come out about it in due course.
“We are committed to it, it’s a manifesto commitment, and we’ve managed to fulfil everything we said we would fulfil in the last manifesto, and I have no reason to doubt that we won’t do the same again on this occasion.”
Councillor Spencer, who was the county council’s deputy leader throughout the last term, says winning such a healthy majority was a “pleasant surprise”, and he is now looking forward to getting back to the day-job.
He said: “This means we can build on the work we started four years ago, and bring about the improvements and changes we’ve wished to make. Because many schemes take more than four years to deliver upon.
“What I hope to see at the end of the second term is a significant change in the way in which the organisation works, and certainly massive investment in the highways infrastructure over the next four years, and a significant investment in the green economy.
“And there will be many initiatives to deal with the impact of flooding incidents that take place across the Derbyshire Dales in particular.
“And we’re going to see a very structured programme of investment and change that will reflect the manifesto commitments we made.
“And obviously included in that is the Ashbourne bypass.”
SECURING such a large majority was a surprise and a delight for Ashbourne publican STEVE BULL, who has been involved in local politics for 20 years.
Retaining his seat with 3,013 votes - nearly 2,500 more than his closest rival, Libdempeter Dobbs, has helped, for the first time, to put the Conservatives in control for a second term.
And, says Cllr Bull, this gives councillors a unique opportunity. “We’ve achieved a lot in the last four years, and there’s still a lot on the back-burner. You can only get so much done in four years, but you can certainly put the foundations in for the next four years and this is the first time.
“So we’ve got to make a difference now, because we’re four years in. Hopefully we’ll be able to show the residents of Derbyshire where we want to go.”
Cllr Bull said in his celebratory speech he feels you have to work hard to give back the kindness that his voters have shown to him.
He said: “I’m a bit overwhelmed to get the support from the residents of the Ashbourne division, to get 3,013 votes. And I’m so grateful.
“I will continue to work hard for all the parishes that I cover. I cover 26 different parishes, it’s one of the biggest areas in the county and it’s very timeconsuming, but people know me well enough.
“The council is part of my culture and part of my life and I’m proud to do it. The more I can do, to help the parishes, the better.”
Councillor Bull says his primary focus will now be securing a bypass for Ashbourne. He says he wants to see the much-needed relief road delivered in the next four years.”