Councillors - Councillor Details

Name: Keith Bovill

Ward: Severals

Tel:     01638 660608

Email: kbovill@tinyworld.co.uk

I was extremely pleased and honoured to have been nominated and elected to the office of Deputy Mayor for 2010/2011, by my fellow Councillors.

Originally from Croydon, I moved to Newmarket in 1985 having married Tracey; a local girl. We have two sons both of whom are working in accountancy.

On leaving school, I joined the Royal Navy and trained as an Electrical Mechanic. I left the forces in 1978 and have subsequently held a number of management positions in the office equipment and social housing fields. I have also worked at Newmarket Citizens Advice Bureau as a volunteer adviser.

I am currently employed as the Head of Housing at Racing Welfare and am particularly interested in the issue of affordable housing for local young people. I would also like to see minimum lettable standards for private rented accommodation and greater use of renewable energy.

I believe that we should engage with young people to encourage their involvement in decisions affecting the future of their town and was pleased to see the introduction of Newmarket’s very own Youth Council. I am involved with the ‘Vision for Newmarket’ working group and hope that all residents of the town will want to participate in developing a vision for their town that reflects its unique and historical nature.

I have been Chairman of the Leisure Services over the past year and have been actively involved in the development of new community facilities including much improved play equipment in the Memorial Gardens and, more recently, the Severals Sports Pavilion.

Name: Cheryl Brighty

Ward: All Saints

Tel:     01638 663225

Email: cheryl.brighty@ntlworld.com

Name: Bill Burch

Ward: St Mary's

Tel:     01638 664653

Email: bill.burch@newmarket.gov.uk

Born in Newmarket in 1931, I have lived in the Town all my life except for two years service in the Royal Air Force. I am married to Sheila and have two grown up sons, both of whom are married and I have 5 grandchildren.

Originally trained as a motor mechanic, my working life has encompassed a number of occupations, the last employment being as General Manager of a Caravan manufacturing company.

I have been a member of St Mary's Church choir for the last 50 years. I was a founder member of the present Newmarket Town Council and was Chairman of the Memorial Hall Regeneration Committee for 2009/2010. I am now Chairman of the Leisure Services Committee for 2010/2011.

Name: Andy Drummond

Ward: St Mary's

Tel:     01638 751411

Email: cllrdrummond@aol.com

Name: Glenn Edge

Ward: Severals

Tel:     01638 676696

Email: glenn.edge520@btinternet.com

Born and educated in Newmarket I have been privileged to serve on the Town Council since 2008. It has been both rewarding and educational.

Newmarket is unique as the headquarters of the horse racing industry and as such its heritage should be respected, valued and supported. However, for Newmarket to continue to flourish and prosper there is a need for other industries and businesses to support sustainable growth without adversely affecting our famous horse racing industry.

As a member of the Development and Planning Committee I believe the Council’s stance on Hatchfield Farm has reaffirmed our determination to protect the Town’s heritage while our other planning decisions and actions are demonstrating our intention to foster existing and future businesses.

A lot has happened over the past two years. Of particular note was the unsolicited Vision for Newmarket published by Mr Gredley. This stimulated a much needed debate on the future of the Town and provided the catalyst for the Council to form a working group, which I chair; to devise a formal Newmarket Town Centre Vision which we hope will be adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance by FHDC. However, first we have to complete our public consultation period to understand the views of the electorate and then write it.

The presentation of the town is important as it is often the first impression given to visitors. As a member of the Community Services Committee I believe we have done well to tackle the issue of A Boards and Finger Posts while also having refurbished the Cooper Memorial and found funding to restore our Victorian cast iron Sewer Vent Pipes, of which there are 13 around the town.

I hope the remainder of my time on the Council continues to be interesting and is seen as being useful to the Town.

Name: Richard Fletcher

Ward: Severals

Tel:     01638 663396

Email: richard.fletcher@tinyworld.co.uk

I am a former senior RAF officer and aviation business consultant. I retired to live in Newmarket with my wife, Wendy, who comes from this area, in January 2007. We have two married daughters and three grand-daughters. I was co-opted onto Newmarket Town Council in March 2008. I am a member of the Community Services Committees and have been Chairman of the Development & Planning Committee since May 2008.

Newmarket is an historic market town with a unique character formed by its long association with horse racing and breeding. It is well served by road and rail links, and is situated in beautiful countryside. However, the town can appear scruffy and depressed. I believe we must allow the town to develop for the benefit of all its citizens but without destroying its heritage.

I am a strong supporter of the proposal to develop the Home of Horseracing visitor attraction in the old Palace House and stables and hope this will result in economic regeneration of the High Street. I also believe that, while the equine industries should be protected, other employment opportunities should be encouraged in our well-found but underutilised industrial area. I am against large scale housing development in the town.

While recognising the importance of the town’s night time economy, I am concerned that it can too often result in anti-social behaviour and would welcome a more visible police presence on the streets. Like all residents, I am acutely aware of the town’s traffic and parking problems and would like to see more imaginative solutions.

Name: Warwick Hirst

Ward: Severals

Tel:     01638 664252 / Mob: 07739 013785

Email: hirstjwh45@aol.com

We moved to Newmarket in 1986 and our two daughters were brought up and educated here. One is a trainee solicitor and the other is a research scientist. My interests are walking, cycling, reading and looking after our various animals.

I have spent most of my career working in manufacturing companies. Following ten years in Unilever in Sales and Marketing, I became Director of the Mailing Systems Division of a USA Office Equipment Company. Later I joined a USA Packaging Company and became responsible for their export business, including four years as General Manager of a USA Subsidiary based in Chicago. I now work with a colleague setting up export distributors for packaging machinery companies.

I was elected to the Town Council in 2003. I was Town Mayor from 2005 to 2007 and the last two years I have been Chairman of the Town Council’s Community Services Committee.

My reason for being a Councillor is to develop Newmarket as a Town. We have recently built the Severals Pavilion and we are engaged in refurbishing our Memorial Hall as a Council. Recent initiatives have been to form a Retailers Association to help the business of the Town. I am also very concerned to get more facilities for the youth of Newmarket.

The key objective for me is to have much more responsibility as a Council for the Town and that will enable us to get the best results for our residents, visitors and workers.

Name: David Hudson

Ward: St. Mary’s

Tel:     01638 661272

Email: d.hudson1@ntlworld.com