Who should you vote for on Thursday? Here, the candidates for South Petherton and Islemoor lay our why you should vote for them...

Antony Clarke, UKIP

I WORKED for well over 50 years in construction and the oil industry as a chartered structural engineer, in London, around the UK, and around the World, and am now retired but with energy.

I am keenly interested in making life better for people in this area.
It’s well known that the current council set up does not work in favour of local residents, preferring to simply fit in with their party dogma.

UKIP is different and keen to improve the local situation for everyone, including you.

This election is your chance to get your voice heard. If I am elected I shall certainly listen to, and represent you.

Adam Dance, Liberal Democrats

AT 14 I was interested in supporting others and joined my Youth Parish Council.

In the past 10 years I’ve helped so many people and really enjoy getting things done.

I’ve gained experience being a parish councillor and now a district councillor but residents don’t care about the different councils, when they need support they come to me for help as I’m local and easily contactable.

That’s why I’m standing for county too, to represent the area where I’ve lived all my life.

I have my own business so I know how to juggle things to make time and have energy to fight for community action, like sorting out a better bus service, and to make sure our roads and pavements are kept up together.

I am here to represent you. I believe in putting people first and I live locally so I’ll be there for you when you need me. I hope I can count on your support with your postal vote or at the polling station on May 4.

I promise I will do my very best to continue to work hard for you, my local residents in our community.

Christopher Le Hardy, Conservatives

Christopher Le Hardy, a former soldier, has worked tirelessly for the South Petherton and Islemoor division delivering nine small road improvement schemes and five flood mitigation schemes across the division.  As chairman of the armed forces covenant, bringing over £500,000 for projects designed to ensure our brave servicemen and women and their families suffer no disadvantage.

Christopher has three main future priorities:

  • Improvements for local and main roads. Full dualling of the A303/A358 is happening and everything possible is being done to improve our local roads.
  • An improvement agenda for Somerset, so doing more, better, with less. We have guided the county through the severest austerity programme seen in local government, keeping council tax low. We have lived within our means, delivering a major capital programme for new schools, roads, innovation and business parks, despite paying off the legacy debt, costing £100,000 a day. The Hinkley Point C build has started. 95 per cent of our schools are now OFSTED Good or Better.
  • Integrated, Joined Up Health and Social Care. Improving every day the care of our most vulnerable adults and children, closely integrating all the services to cope with the ever-increasing demands on these vital services.

Paul Sellers, Labour

MY goal is to improve local services and make their delivery more efficient. My experience includes winning improvements to the local government reorganisation and the council ‘best value’ initiatives, in my role as the TUC’s lead negotiator.

Locally, I have been a parish councillor for eight years. I have a solid track record of representing people and getting things done.

The current council has been too weak in speaking for Somerset, leaving us with a poor funding deal and widespread cuts in local services. I will use my skills and contacts to fight for something fairer.

My priorities include ensuring the county has sufficient jobs, including apprenticeships, so that its economy can thrive and offer a brighter future to young people.

A better economy needs better transport links and broadband. I intend to make sure improvements are delivered.

My ward has special character. It’s full of historic villages and beautiful countryside. I’m deeply aware of my responsibility to ensure development is environmentally sustainable.

I am also committed to fighting hard for fair funding to tackle flooding, as the government’s promises of 2013 have not been fulfilled. Let’s work together to make things better.