Praise for council from business which opened 57 years ago ahead of local elections

Kevin Slade, owner of Slades Florist and Greengrocer
By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
There was praise for Rushcliffe Borough Council from local West Bridgford businesses ahead of the upcoming local elections.
The whole-council elections will take place next month on May 4, to elect members for the next four years.
Rushcliffe has 20 wards and 120 candidates have been nominated to contest the election for 2023.
The council is currently run by the Conservative Party and current leader Simon Robinson is stepping down before the local elections.
A new party, the Rushcliffe Independents, has put forward five candidates for this year’s elections, hoping to become a “major force” in local politics.
Kevin Slade owns Slades Florist and Greengrocer which has been a family business since 1965.

He said: “I can’t say a bad word against Rushcliffe Borough Council.
“I’ve always fought my own corner in business but I think the council are pretty good.
“You see so many shops close on the high street so any help from the council is great.
“We’re fortunate to still be here, this was my father’s business and we are now on the 3rd generation.
“The council have been very supportive and helped us with new shop fronts.
“I’ll be voting in May and I think the voter ID is a great idea because it stops fraudulent voting. I’m all for it.”
But West Bridgford resident Madeline Holmes said she wanted to see a change in the area.
She said: “We’re lucky to live in West Bridgford and it has a lot going for it.
“I know how I will be voting and will vote against the grain in West Bridgford because of national issues.
“West Bridgford has a lot going for it, we have a lot of green space. I wish there was slightly more police presence on the streets and perhaps less litter and more recycling opportunities.”
Craig Wright, owner of J&J Barbers, added: “I am pretty happy with the council here to be honest.
“It was dead easy during the pandemic to access the grants.
“Everything has been running alright and there isn’t anything I’d like to see change in West Bridgford.
“I’ve got my ID so I will probably go and vote.”
The count will be held at Rushcliffe Arena, Rugby Road, West Bridgford on May 5, starting at 10am with the last result anticipated at 4pm.

Below is a list of all candidates standing in each Rushcliffe ward, listed in alphabetical surname order.
The bracket is the number of council seats being elected.
Abbey (3)
Steve Calvert, Labour Party
Julie Elizabeth Chaplain, Labour Party
Stephen John Duckworth, Local Conservatives
Darius Furmonavicius, Local Conservatives
Amit Kumar Garg, Local Conservatives
Penny Gowland, Labour Party
Keith Michael Jamieson, Liberal Democrats
Sandra Louise Lee, Green Party
Ian James Whitehead, Green Party
Bingham North (2)
Nadia Marusia Jejna, Independent
Stephen John Perkins, Independent
Francis Anthoney Purdue-Horan, Independent
Nigel Kenneth Regan, Local Conservatives
Wayne Paul Stapleton, Independent
Gareth Tyson Alan Williams, Local Conservatives
Bingham South (2)
Rowan Bird, Independent
Elena Georgiou, Independent
Andrew Charles Shelton, Independent
Paul David Simpson, Local Conservatives
Maureen Stockwood, Independent
Peter Joseph Vallelly, Labour Party
Clare Louise Williams, Local Conservatives
Andrew Michael Wood, Liberal Democrats
Bunny (1)
Will Birch, Rushcliffe Independents Putting Bunny First
Jim Coyle, Labour Party
Andy Edyvean, Local Conservatives
Compton Acres (2)
Catherine Mary Carmichael, Labour Party
Richard George Henry Holmes, Green Party
Graham Scott Johnson, Labour Party
Rod Jones, Liberal Democrats
Hari Om, Local Conseravtives
Alan Phillips, Local Conservatives
William Andreas Richardson, Green Party
Cotgrave (3)
Richard Langton Butler, Local Conservatives
Keir Ronald Chewings, Rushcliffe Independents Putting Cotgrave First
John Robert Clements, Labour Party
Stuart John Ellis, Local Conservatives
Leo Martin Patrick Healy, Local Conservatives
Andy Naslas, Labour Party
Darren Stothard, Independent
Cranmer (1)
Sarah Paulina Bailey, Local Conservatives
Chris Grocock, Labour Party
Cropwell (1)
Ted Birch, Rushcliffe Independents
Gordon Sidney Moore, Local Conservatives
East Bridgford (1)
Steve Kilduff, Labour Party
Monica Monni, Independent
David Stephen Simms, Local Conservatives
Edwalton (2)
Hetvi Kiran Parekh, Local Conservatives
Brian Robinson, Labour Party
Nancy Grace Smith-Mitsch, Liberal Democrats
Charles Rupert Standring, Labour Party
Douglas Gordon Wheeler, Local Conservatives
Gamston (2)
John Robert Bannister, Labour Party
Chris Geeson, Labour Party
Elizabeth Jane Mollatt, Green Party
Terry Morrell, Liberal Democrats
Davinder Singh Virdi, Local Conservatives
Jonathan Gordon Alexander Wheeler, Local Conservatives
Gotham (2)
Gill Aldridge, Labour Party
Andy Brown, Local Conservatives
Lewis Mcaulay, Labour Party
Rex Frederick Walker, Local Conservatives
Mike Wright, Liberal Democrats
Keyworth & Wolds (3)
Linda Jane Abbey, Liberal Democrats
David William Clarke, Labour Party
John Elliott Cottee, Local Conservatives
Kevin James Fitzgerald, Labour Party
Rob Inglis, Local Conservatives
Kev Loew, Labour Party
Shelley May Millband, Independent
Tony Wells, Local Conservatives
Lady Bay (2)
Richard John Crouch, Labour Party
Luke Fintan Dorian, Local Conservatives
George Richard Mallender, Green Party
Sue Mallender, Green Party
Jean Audrey Smith, Local Conservatives
Keith Wright, Labour Party
Leake (3)
Jason Richard Billin, Indpendent
Paul Symington Mercer, Local Conservatives
Lutterell (1)
Naz Begum, Labour Party
Benjamin Robert Gray, Green Party Councillor
Phill Matthews, Local Conservatives
Musters (2)
Sara Elizabeth Dellar, Liberal Democrats
Ruta Furmonaviciene, Local Conservatives
Rachel Edwina Jane Godkin, Local Conservatives
Dora Polenta, Labour Party
Vicky Price, Liberal Democrats
Roger Smith, Labour Party
Neville & Langar (1)
Tina Combellack, Local Conservatives
Margaret Lynn Irving, Independent
Newton (1)
Paul James Barton, Labour Party
Rhiana Elizabeth Lakin, Green Party
Debbie Soloman, Local Conservatives
Radcliffe on Trent (3)
Abby Brennan, Local Conservatives
Jonathan Neil Clarke, Local Conservatives
Lance Concannon, Reform UK
Martin Gordon Culshaw, Labour Party
Jane Serena Fulford, Green Party
Kim Kupper, Green Party
Paul Rotherham, Labour Party
Alice Irene Tomlinson, Labour Party
Roger Glyn Upton, Local Conservatives
Adam Zbigniew Witko, Liberal Democrats
Ruddington (3)
Ben Atack, Local Conservatives
Gary Dane Dickman, Local Conservatives
Graham George Fletcher, Labour Party
Mike Gaunt, Labour Party
Andrew Kemp, Local Conservatives
Andrew Nicholson-Cole, Green Party
Jen Walker, Labour Party
Soar Valley (1)
Matt Barney, Local Conservatives
Stuart Christopher Matthews, Rushcliffe Independents
David William Dryden Wright, Liberal Democrats
Tollerton (1)
Annette Beaumont, Labour Party
Natascha Ruth Birch, Rushcliffe Independents
Peter Brennig Lewis Jordan Jones, Green Party
Debbie Mason, Local Conservatives
Trent Bridge (1)
Timothy Andrew Baker, Green Party
Paul Frederick Coe, Local Conservatives
Liz Plant, Labour Party