By-election candidates for Littlemoor and Preston ward

Seats on Dorset Council and Weymouth Town Council are being contested following the death of Cllr Tony Ferrari in November.

Whoever wins will only serve until May when all Dorset councils hold elections.

Six polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm for the elections in Littlemoor and Preston on Thursday, January 11.

Three candidates will be contesting the vacant Dorset Council Littlemoor and Preston seat with three also contesting the Preston Weymouth Town Council seat.

The polling station opens on the day for the Dorset Council seat will be the Spyglass Inn at Bowleaze Coveway; The Reynolds Community Centre, Dorchester Road, Broadwey; St Francis of Assisi Church Hall at Merredin Close, Littlemoor; Littlemoor Community Centre in Canberra Road; Preston Village Hall and the Mission Hall, Mission Hall Lane, Sutton Poyntz.

For the Weymouth Town Council by-election the locations are The Spyglass, Preston Village Hall and the Mission Hall at Sutton Poyntz.

Those intending to vote will have been told on their polling card which polling station they should attend.

Residents preparing to vote at any of the locations are reminded that since a change in the law last year they will need to bring photo ID with them.

Contesting the Dorset Council Littlemoor and Preston seat is – Steve Brown from the Labour Party; Simon Clifford, Liberal Democrats and Peter Dickenson, Local Conservatives.

The Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates are also contesting the Weymouth Town Council Preston seat with Mrs Joanna Dickenson standing for the Local Conservatives.

Each of the candidates were asked to provide a brief statement –

Steve Brown, Labour –

Steve Brown is the Labour Party candidate in the upcoming by-election for Dorset Council and Weymouth Town Council. Steve has lived in the area for many years and is passionate about creating a better future for Weymouth. He knows we need to attract good, well-paying employers to the town so that our young feel they have a future here.

Steve will bring years of commercial experience to the council – something it desperately needs to ensure everyone’s council tax is spent wisely. He has had a varied career – starting working life as an engineering apprentice before running several of his own hospitality businesses.

As a councillor, Steve will prioritise more funding for local community groups, affordable housing for local people, and green jobs to preserve our beautiful area and secure the future of our town.”

Simon Clifford, Liberal Democrat –

My career as a journalist started with newspapers, including the Evening Echo, and then with the BBC in both radio and TV. I have covered major stories from UK disasters to international events like the US elections. I was an accredited War Correspondent in the Gulf War and have reported from Afghanistan, Europe and the US. I then moved into Local Government and finished my career as deputy chief executive of a large council so have great insight into how Dorset Council operates.

I have lived and worked in Dorset for many years and have a strong track record in community involvement, from parish councillor, chairman of my local rugby club, and currently trustee of one charity and chair of two others. My national charity supports mental health in the hospitality sector, another, based in Dorset, helps unpaid carers with small grants and respite breaks, and the third charity supports very elderly people, I am standing to try to overturn planned cuts to charities and to fight for more help for families in the cost-of-living crisis.

I am married with two grown up children and am often seen in my home village of Sutton Poyntz walking Jake the dog!

Peter Dickenson, Local Conservative

I live in Preston with my family having moved to Weymouth over 20 years ago.  I served as a Prison Officer for over 30 years and am very proud of my service. I was elected to Weymouth Town Council to represent the Preston & Sutton Poyntz Ward in 2021 and have served to the best of my ability since. I am the “lollipop man” at St Andrews School.  I have worked closely with Councillors Louie O’Leary, Jan Bergman and the late Tony Ferrari on issues such as a better bus service for Preston, road-resurfacing, the incinerator and opposing the current Neighbourhood Plan as it relates to additional high density building in Preston.   My main priorities include a bus service for Sutton Poyntz, and action on congested junctions coming off Littlemoor Road. I am an active member of the community in the Ward and have always done my best to be active and visible all year round – not just at election time – by attending and volunteering at events and holding regular residents’ meetings listening to their views. I want to serve the people of Littlemoor & Preston on Dorset council. Please cast your vote for me on 11th January.

Joanna Dickenson, Local Conservative (Weymouth Town Council only)

I live in Preston with my husband Peter and my family. I formerly owned and ran a dental surgery before retiring in 2020. I have lived in Weymouth for over 20 years and I am proud to call it home. Now retired, I want to give back to the community. I serve as a Schools Examination Invigilator and Education Enterprise Work Advisor at a local secondary school. I am a member of the Women’s’ Institute and regularly volunteer at community events in Littlemoor and at St Andrews School in Preston. I have attended many local events across the Ward over the years as an active community member. I have, and will continue to work closely with Dorset Councillor Louie O’Leary on local issues such as improved bus services for Preston & Sutton Ponytz, protecting our green spaces and road safety. My personal hobbies include looking after my grandchildren, quizzes and of course my community work. It would be an honour to become a Town Councillor for Preston & Sutton Poyntz and focus on the local issues facing the Ward. This Ward is my home and my community, and I want to fight for it and serve it.