Worksop residents and business owners left feeling despondent ahead of local election

May 3, 2023

A view of the market stalls in Bridge Street, Worksop

By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter

Residents and business owners in Worksop say they have been left feeling undecided and “despondent” ahead of the local election on May 4.

Bassetlaw, which sits in the north of Nottinghamshire and is noted for its mining heritage, has typically been a safe haven for the Labour Party.

It was not until the general election in 2019 that the Conservative Party’s Brendan Clarke-Smith took control as MP, taking over from Labour for the first time since 1929.

Bassetlaw District Council, however, has so far remained red.

Voters will head to the polls on May 4 to cast their vote to determine which party takes control of the council for the next four years.

In the local election in 2019 the Labour group managed to increase its majority on the council, securing 37 out of 48 seats.

The Conservatives lost seven seats in what was the party’s worst defeat in recent history, leaving the group with five.

One of these seats was in Worksop South, where Labour managed to secure an additional seat from the Conservatives in 2019.

Two additional independent councillors were elected, increasing the number of councillors without any political party affiliation to five.

Finally, the Liberal Democrats secured a seat from Labour in East Retford West.

The turmoil at a national level, austerity measures, the Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis, have all left some residents and business owners saying they are undecided or even despondent.

Terry Hook, formerly of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) at the Shirebrook pit, said he would not be voting Labour.

Mr Hook, who has lived in Worksop for the past 34 years having moved up from working the coalfields in Kent, said: “I would not vote for these Labour councillors.

“I will vote for whoever suits me. You just have to look at the town centre, you walk down the town and half of the shops are empty.

“I will go home and research for myself and make my mind up tomorrow.”

Business-owner John Harrison, of the Fred Harrison hardware shop in Bridge Street, says he “doesn’t think much of any of them”.

He also fears the existing administration’s plans to improve Worksop are lacking.

Just under £18m of Levelling Up money will be spent on redeveloping the Priory Centre, including the creation of a new family-focused leisure facility with activities such as tenpin bowling.

“The town centre is a mess, but I think all of them are,” he said.

“I have voted Labour. I think the Conservatives have looked better without Boris, he really annoyed me with his performances.

“I wrote to our MP [Brendan Clarke-Smith] about his support of Boris, but he still ended up supporting a loser.

“I think national politics will impact us locally. Locally it is Labour controlled, and I know they have got this bid money for the area, but the idea of building a bowling alley I cannot see it being good, except for the kids.

“I do not particularly have faith in Labour, I do not trust any of them.”

Two young mums, who asked to remain anonymous, said it has become “harder to live” amid the cost of living crisis.

They too have been left unable to say who they would vote for.

One, a retail assistant at Sainsbury’s, said: “I’ve noticed it in my weekly shop.

“Nursery costs are a lot. For childcare I rely on my family a lot.”

Both were uncertain as to what various parties were planning in their area, but they hoped something would be done about the number of empty shops in the town centre.

“I do not really follow it, I got a flyer through my door from the Conservatives,” the retail assistant said.

“I do not even remember the candidates’ names. I think it is just depressing because there is nothing left here.”

The second woman added: “We tend to go to Meadowhall [in Sheffield].”

Other residents said they had been left feeling “despondent”.

A market trader, who also asked to remain anonymous, raised immigration as an issue alongside Alan Pickering, a former Gedling pit worker who now works at Krisey’s Cards.

“I think everyone has lost hope, really,” the market trader said.

“I voted for Boris [at the last election], then I was going to vote for Nigel Farage because I was that frightened of Corbyn.

“But now I would not vote for the Conservatives and I would not vote for Labour. I’ll probably vote for Reform [UK] at the next general election.

“I’m despondent. The Conservatives have had 13 years now, and are we better or worse off? It looks like we are worse.

“The NHS is a joke. My Mrs tried to get a doctors appointment, but she couldn’t even get through to the receptionist. You either fix it yourself or die.

“For this stall here I pay £45 for the day. It is more expensive than anywhere else. We live in weak government times, that is why I’m not interested in the local council.”

Similarly Mr Pickering added: “I always vote Labour to be honest, but the way things are going I am not too sure.”

The candidates standing in each Worksop ward are as follows:

Worksop East (3)

Pamela Lesley Briggs – The Conservative and Unionist Party

Cliff Entwistle – Labour Party

Tim Griffith – The Conservative and Unionist Party

Debbie Merryweather – Labour Party

Klaudia Piatek – The Conservative and Unionist Party

Jo White – Labour Party

Worksop North (3)

Jack Robin Fergal Best – Green Party

Barry Albert Bowles – The Conservative and Unionist Party