Today, Exeter residents will head to the polling stations and vote in the Devon County Council Elections. There are five candidates standing to be Councillor in Duryard and Pennsylvania, the University’s local county division.
There are four polling stations in the division. They are located at Lopes Hall, Birks Grange, St James’ Church Hall and Sylvania Community Hall. The five political parties being represented are the Liberal Democrats, the Conservatives, Labour, the Green Party and UKIP.
Whilst the Conservative Party previously had control of the of the Devon County Council with 41 out of 62 seats, five of the nine seats being contested in Exeter were previously occupied by Labour.
The Labour Party have been campaigning to increase the number of sustainable jobs available for young people and intend to resist further privatisation of the Devon County Council. They also pledge to ensure that elderly and vulnerable people get high quality Health and Wellbeing Services.
The Conservative Party are pledging to provide more people across the county with superfast broadband and campaign for better transport links with the rest of the country.
If the Liberal Democrats are to take control, they’re pledging to cut parking permit prices by ten pounds and abolish recycling centre taxes. The Green Party are pledging to support the introduction of a Living Wage in Exeter and scrap all planned incinerators. The UKIP manifesto pledges to bring in stricter immigration policies.
Exeter University students are standing in the elections. James Roberts, History and Politics student, is standing for the Conservative Party in the St Davids and St James county division. Carlus Hudson, another History and Politics student, is standing as the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) candidate in the Newtown and Polsloe division.
When asked if she will be voting, English student Stephanie Wilson said: “Although I’ve only been living in Exeter since September, I’ll be having a look at the manifestos and heading down to the polling stations. The changes that the winning Councillors make will affect students for the rest of my time at university.”
Law Student Kate Williams added: “I don’t think it’s right for people to take voting for granted, whether it’s a Council election or a General election, women protested for the right to vote for years and it’s a chance for us to participate in national consensus.”
Click on each candidate name below to read their party’s manifesto.
Duryard and Pennyslvania Candidates
Chris Barnett (Green Party)
Kevin Martin Chun (Liberal Democrats)
Hannah Packham (Labour Party)
Percy Prowse (The Conservative Party)
Colin Stewart (UKIP)
The polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm. To find out about other county divisions in Exeter click here.
Tom Elliott, Online News Editor
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