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Local Election 2025: Eastwood division profile

By Lauren Monaghan, Junior Local Democracy Reporter

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Eastwood has seen three separate parties control its seat in the past three Nottinghamshire County Council elections since 2013 – with more contenders in the May 1 race the area could see another change.

The north Broxtowe town is steeped in heritage and culture, being the birthplace of internationally-renowned novelist D. H. Lawrence and possessing rich mining history.

It was held by the Liberal Democrats from 2013 to 2017 then turned Conservative blue in 2017.

It remained Conservative in the 2021 election and then turned Independent in a 2022 by-election.

The last County Council election saw four party candidates run – Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem and Green – but this time round there are six. Notts TV invited all the candidates to attend an interview.

Result in 2021: Conservative HOLD – Eddie Cubley

Turnout: 32 per cent

Electorate: 9,446

Ballot papers issued: 3,024

Majority: 46.4 per cent vote share and a 136-vote majority over Labour

Result in 2022 by-election: Independent GAIN- Kane Oliver

Following Councillor Cubley’s death in 2022, a by-election in November 2022 saw Independent Councillor, Kane Oliver, take the seat from the Tories with a 41-vote majority over Labour.

Questioning the 2025 candidates

Josie Marsters – Liberal Democrats

Ms Marsters was not available to answer questions via an interview. A statement read: “Josie has a long commitment to serving the residents of Eastwood, which she has demonstrated with over 30 years as a volunteer in the community.

“She was a volunteer at Eastwood Volunteer Bureau before going on to spend 25 years as a trustee of the Colin Dyson Centre. She helped set up and now runs Eastwood Neighbourhood Watch, previously worked for the Royal British Legion and is a fundraiser for two cancer charities.

“Josie is a previous borough councillor and would now like to bring the experience that she gained in that role to the County Council. Her priorities if elected will be to protect the green belt, fix the potholes and be an effective voice for the people of Eastwood.

“There will be many challenges for the County Council over the next few years as the government tries to force through its local government reforms, and its crucial that communities like Eastwood have representatives who will put them first and not just blindly follow the party whip. Josie is ideally suited to that role.”

Will Mee – Labour Party

Why should people vote for you?

“I want to make change for Eastwood. I’m sick and tired of just seeing a lack of investment, opportunities, infrastructures, a lack of opportunities for young people- I think Eastwood has been left behind. A lot of money is spent in Beeston – that’s not a bad thing – but we need some of that spent in Eastwood.”

What are the priorities for Eastwood?

“One of the big problems is potholes, broken roads, broken pavements, something people deal with every day. The amount of pot holes that are reported and been filled to some extent have been good, some bad, but it’s often better than it was- I’m keen to change that… I don’t think it’s right nothing gets done about it. Also, public transport, there’s a lack of integrated ticketing, a lack of services to certain areas- that’s something I’m keen to deal with.

“Also we need to use the D.H. Lawrence [heritage]. You look at the blue line around the town and it’s been absolutely decimated- this is Eastwood’s USP. Eastwood’s USP is D.H. Lawrence, the mining heritage and it’s about time we use it.”

What has Eastwood got going for it?

“The D.H. Lawrence side of things, that’s a massive thing for Eastwood, it’s Eastwood’s unique selling point. It’s not being used properly to bring in money to the town, I think that’s completely wrong.

“It’s in a good geography, you’re near Langley Mill Train Station, the beautiful parts of Derbyshire and North Nottinghamshire, you’re also relatively close to Nottingham so it’s easy to commute to Nottingham if you want to.”

Kieran Phelan – Local Conservatives

Why should people vote for you ?

“I’m a new voice for Eastwood. I’m getting into politics because I think Eastwood deserves better. The community has so much to be proud of, and so much potential, but for too long Eastwood’s been overlooked. With your support, I want to offer a new voice for change- one that will put Eastwood first and always.

“I’m a grafter and will work hard to champion all that’s great about Eastwood. I won’t stop working until the community gets the investment and attention it deserves. Eastwood’s success will always be my top priority and in trusting me with your vote on the 1st of May, together we can build a better Eastwood for us all.”

What are the priorities for Eastwood?

“What’s coming up time after time is that Eastwood has been overlooked and there’s so much potential here for a better high street, better roads and a better Eastwood generally. The Conservatives have been in power and delivering for Nottinghamshire.

“When people talk about Eastwood they talk about D.H. Lawrence and its proud history and heritage and less so talking about its future. A lot of people talk about Eastwood being overlooked, where the money goes tends to go to Kimberley, to Beeston, and Eastwood doesn’t get a look in. I think for a long time they’ve voted for Independent candidates and Labour candidates who just haven’t delivered on their priorities and I want to be that proud community champion to put Eastwood first in all that I can do. I’m very new to politics but I do feel I have skills to give back to the community and the people’s priorities will be my priorities.”

What does Eastwood have going for it?

“I think it’s got such a proud community where people band together and look out for each other. I think it’s got so much potential on its high street. Even though you’ve seen lots of ‘for let’ signs in growing numbers – too many I think – I think if we back local businesses I think the community will thrive. Just the community spirit here, there’s so many volunteer groups and community groups that are doing so much amazing work – I want to be that community champion for them.”

Milan Radulovic – Broxtowe Alliance – Putting Eastwood First

Why should residents vote for you?

“It’s a very important election this time round, probably the most important election in my lifetime with the local government review and the fears many people have, including myself, about being put into the city, with the financial problems which will strip all of the assets from places like Broxtowe and Eastwood will continue to be ignored as by previous governments and this government.

“The needs of working class areas and working class people have far too long been ignored. Protecting the establishment, propping up that establishment and civil service at the expense of ordinary people’s lives and that is morally wrong. “

What are the priorities for Eastwood?

“Eastwood suffers from a low skill base, there isn’t a single education or college provider in the entirety of Broxtowe. Two training providers [previously in Eastwood] have both been withdrawn and pulled out and young people have been denied the opportunity to access training and employment and work. Many people feel the infrastructure is crumbling, the state of our roads, pavements, footpaths, continued 14 years of austerity and underinvestment. A lack of provision for healthcare – we have health disparities in Eastwood, high instances of heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, things like arthritis, usually from an industrial background and heritage.

“We’re trying to end that health disparity by bringing health issues into the area. We’re trying to relocate at the moment-  the DWP, Job Centre Plus, the Connect to Work Programme. We’ve already attracted a further £100,000 from health care providers for the Cedars project in Eastwood  helping to support people with Alzheimer’s and dementia. We also need more jobs, more skills, more employment, we need more opportunities especially for our young people.”

What does Eastwood have going for it?

“Eastwood has great heritage, of coal industry, heavy work, of hard industrial background and of people dedicated and committed to work and provide for families. We have a close-knit community which is very vibrant, strong links with people like D.H Lawrence and very strong sporting heritage as well. We aim continually to promote our tourism, our heritage, our culture within the area and that’s one of our great strengths that we are a community and we need to stick together to fight not just the previous government’s lack of investment but also the current government’s lack of investment in places like Eastwood.”

James Donovan Adrian Walker-Gurley for Reform UK, and Rose Woods for the Green Party, were both unable to attend an interview and did not provide statements.