Local businessman Bernard Froggatt broke cover and formally announced his intention to run for Anston and Woodsetts in May at a public meeting in Anston tonight.
With the incumbent nincompoop Jo Burton in his sights will people heed the call “Don’t let Anston go for a Burton” (not Bernard’s words)
LoveDinnington.com 
It is rally great the UKIP candidate has broken cover, but what is he going to offer Anston? Since 1975, Anston has lost so many services, while the population has carried on increasing. I will certainly vote UKIP to get rid of Kevin Barron, but at a local level I am less keen and could even stand myself if necessary.
Other than he is a local lad and the contents of his leaflet I don’t know, I expect things will take shape as we get nearer to May.
Still considering standing yourself, Tim?
It really depends on Bernard’s response. If he is standing only for UKIP national policies and there is nobody else to stand against him as a truly Independent candidate for Anston and people can support me to get a campaign going, then I will. I have registered with RMBC for any such eventuality. I have sent a letter to the Guardian, asking Bernard what he is going to do for Anston. We could end up with three Ward Councillors who don’t live in Anston.
Hi Tim,
In case you missed it, until very recently we already had all three RMBC Cllrs living outside the village. From the Leaflet it says that he was born in Anston (just like the Independent Cllr) and now lives in Woodsetts. The ward name is “Anston and WOODSETTS, so he probably qualifies don’t you think. On your ambitions to stand for Election, its dammed hard work, and can only be won, with the help of a good team working around you, I don’t think you have the support at the moment I think that at this May`s Election in Anston, the contest will be a straight run between the Labour Party and UKIP. If you were to stand you would probably split the vote and let Jo Burton in again, do you really want that to happen.
In the interest of the People of Anston it may well be good to tactically vote UKIP, then we would have a Labour Cllr, an Independent Cllr ( who is already proving he works much harder than the two current Labour Cllrs) and a UKIP Cllr. Three differing views can only be better for Democracy and the people of Anston.
Stuart. So we have Clive and Judy living in Dinnington, a possible UKIP councillor living in Woodsettes. It isn’t going to help make Anston a more sustainable village is it. Or will they all be cycling to the meetings on their bikes. I may not be happy with Jo being the incumbent ward councillor, but I won’t be voting for the UKIP donkey either. I only vote UKIP to get the referendum vote and because they promise binding national referendums, this only matters at the Kevin Barron level. Cheers Tim
This kind of talk is like the silly rules which mean Anston people can’t talk at Dinnington Town Council and stops me saying anything at Anston Parish.
The two places are joined at the hip and the sooner we start working together the better,
If the right person for councillor lives in Dinno or Woodsetts then let them serve. Oh and it is Anston and Woodsetts as well Tim!
There maybe joint issues that we can work on together such as preventing building in the green belt, but there has been an unfair location of services and facilities in Dinnington, that a person living in Dinnington won’t fight against on behalf of the Anston people. We have seen this with Ian St John and Judy Dalton in the past. So if we get Bernard representing us from Woodsetts (population of less than (2K population) and two from Dinnington, that means we have no representation from Anston (11K population.) One thing we have seen with the Dinnington parish council, is that they took steps well in advance of Anston Parish council to halt building on their land and fight tooth and nail for Dinnington which I can’t fault them for.
Hi Tim,
Calling the UKIP Candidate a Donkey is not very nice, its the sort of language some of the Labour group would use.
Yeah to be fair to Bernard he’s a bit better looking! LOL
What I was trying to say, is that now UKIP is on the rise, they are in the same position as Labour to appoint a candidate and people will just vote for him or her because they are a UKIP candidate. Give me an a real Independent who lives in the village any time.
Hi Tim,
Re your comment ” that means we have no representation from Anston”. I can assure you that we certainly have representation in Anston in the form of the Independent Cllr, Clive Jepson. Since his Election he has worked all hours in trying to solve peoples problems in Anston, which is more than both the two Labour Cllrs, Dalton and Burton, have done in the last four years. Have you noticed that Burton and Dalton have started to “appear” around the Village and in Newspapers recently. Its surely nothing to do with the fact that Burton is up for Election in May (where was she the other three years ) and that Dalton is up next year. At least Clive is working for the people all the time, not just in the run up to an Election.
On a final note, since Clive was Elected, the work load of the Labour Cllrs has had to improve, they now turn up for meetings when in the past they didn’t bother, so my previous argument about electing anyone but Labour can only be in the interest of the People of Anston.
Stuart I would prefer you to stand as an Independen, than Bernard as a UKIP. Unless Bernard is willing to challenge RMBC and help Rothervalley south to break away from RMBC, UKIP national policies won’t change Anston. Before the rural district was disbanded we were cash rich, had a far better level of services and accountability. They even helped Dinnington and Anston to build their own community swimming pool. Since 1975 the rural district has grown by about 50% in population, but on top of this we would be better off purchasing certain serviced from Bassetlaw, who are much closer related than ever Rotherham will be. Cheers Tim
Bernard now has a chance to respond in the Guardian following my open letter to him. He can make or break his case.
Do you think we could do our best to replace the Labour candidates? Put somebody new up for election?
There is certainly room for an independent in Anston, if you mean have a different Labour candidate then I think that shop has sailed as they have all been endorsed by the local party.