Councillors Page
This page last updated 10-Oct-2008

This page has useful information on the Councillors which serve on Euxton Parish Council

Parish Wards | Newest Councillor article | Councillor contact details | Elections | Past Chairman list | PARISH COUNCILLOR VACANCIES

 

Below are profiles of Councillors who have featured in the Euxton Web newsletter and their photos alongside and below these is a list of historic Chairman of the Council.

Euxton Parish Councillors and their ward representations (wards explained here)

Name Tel Email   Name Tel Email
Cllr D Bateman
Highways Avenue, representing Euxton South
272708     Cllr J Matson Vice Chairman
Mallom Avenue, representing Euxton South
260780 Email
Cllr C Cocking
Earls Way, representing Euxton South
231113    

Cllr A Mercer
Beech Avenue, representing Euxton North West

275870 Email
Cllr A Dilworth
Glencroft, representing Euxton North West
277849     Cllr M Mercer
Beech Avenue, represents Euxton North West
275870 Email
Cllr T Gray
Cedar Avenue, representing Euxton North West
411814

Email

  Cllr S Newell
works at Shackerley Holdings, lives in Heapey,representing Euxton North East
273114 Email
Cllr M Gray
Cedar Avenue, representing Euxton North West
411814 Email  

Cllr A Platt
Ambleside Avenue, representing Euxton South

234003 Email
Cllr C Hickey
Wigan Road, representing Euxton South
260457 Email   Cllr B Robins
Sycamore Avenue, representing euxton North East
07923 489134 Email

Cllr C Hindle
worked in Euxton managing a local Spar shop for 19 years, lives within a mile of Euxton in Leyland, represents Euxton South

01772 452474 Email   Cllr E Sutton
Queensway, representing Euxton South
266456 Email
Cllr E Jones Chairman
Cotswold Avenue, representing Euxton South
411998 Email   Cllr K Wallbank
Wigan Road, representing Euxton North West
273218 Email
Cllr B Leyden
Yew Tree Avenue, representing Euxton North East
279627 Email   Cllr S Wellerd
Limes Avenue, representing Euxton North West
234644 Email


Highlighted names have profiles below, just click on the highlighted name. If you wish to contact by email a Councillor who does not have one listed, please send to the Clerk to forward on for you, contact on euxtoncouncil@btinternet.com

 


ELECTIONS

The Parish Council elections are every four years, the last being May 2006. Parish Councillors are elected and serve a 4 year term. Vacancies can occur, from time to time, because of retirement, death or disqualification. When there is a vacancy it is advertised on the home pages of the website, on this page, in the quarterly Euxton Web newsletter and on all five council noticeboards. The next Parish Council elections will be the first Thursday in May, 2010.

To see further details about vacancies for Councillors, click this link.

 

   
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Don Bateman

Don was co-opted to the Parish Council in November 1999 and has been subsequently elected to the Council in May 2002 and May 2006.

 

 

sorry no photo yet

Carole Cocking
I was born in London and lived there until 1990 when my husband and I moved to Euxton to be near our daughter, Lynn, and her husband Mark. I became a Parish Councillor in 2001.
 

Carole Cocking

Tony Dilworth

My name is Anthony Dilworth, but known as Tony. I was born in Euxton in 1938. I am married to Doreen whom I met at a dance hall in Chorley in 1959 and we have three children and five grandchildren.

I attended St Mary's School in Euxton until leaving at the age of 15 and my first employment was in a cotton mill before moving on to the construction industry.

Like most people of my age, I was drafted into Her Majesty's Forces. Spending time in the Army, first as an infantry man in the Border regiment then transferring to the police. After demob, I did various jobs in building and construction then finally worked for Baxi heating at Chorley, then Bamber Bridge. I worked at Baxi for approximately 30 years, first in building maintenance then as an assembly worker where I became a shop steward. While still at Baxi I was elected by the shop stewards committee to be a works convenor and furthered my union work by being elected to National Committee as a representative for Lancashire and West Yorkshire in the foundry workers union.

Twenty years ago I set up a neighbourhood watch in the area I live and am a founder member of Chorley District Neighbourhood Watch Committee, where I was elected the first Vice Chairman. I have once, in the past, represented Chorley on the National Neighbourhood Watch in London. I have also attended meetings at Police headquarters in Hutton.

I regularly attend the PACT meetings in Euxton and in 2006 I was elected to serve on the St Mary's Euxton Church Committee representing the building and cemetery. For the past ten years I have been groundsman looking after the cemetery, cutting the grass and re-turfing when necessary.

In August 2005 I became a member of Euxton Parish Council. I have seen a lot of changes in Euxton, living here most of my life. Since the beginning of the 1960s when the building industry took off in a big way and developers saw Euxton as a prime location, housing estates have grown and grown taking farm land and lots of fields, woodlands have disappeared along with some wild life. The M6 is a prime example of woodland being destroyed - there used to be a wooded area stretching from Runshaw Lane almost to Dawbers Lane.

Now we are under threat by another developer who wants to quarry Euxton. If this happens Euxton will no longer be the pleasant clean place to live and bring up children. As a resident, and a Parish Councillor, I am totally against this proposal for a quarry and any other development on Greenfield land in Euxton.

As a Councillor, I pledge to do my best to serve the people of Euxton to the best of my ability.

 

 

Tony Dilworth

Mary Gray
I was born in Rufford but have lived in Euxton since 1975. I worked at the Royal Ordinance Factory, British Aerospace for seventeen years and then at the Hartwood Hotel for five years prior to retiring.
I have been the Chair of the Leisure Committee of the Council for over 8 years. Besides the Parish Council I am a Governor of Primrose Hill Primary School and a group observer for Chorley Borough Council.

 

 

Mary Gray

Tommy Gray
In January 2006 Tommy was recognised by Council for his 25 years of Service.

My wife Mary and I have lived in Euxton since 1975 and we have three grown up daughters. I worked for Leyland Bus for 21 years and now work for Ruttle Plant Hire. I have been on the Parish Council since 1980 and through being a parish councillor have past served as governor to two of the local primary schools, Balshaw Lane and Primrose Hill. Besides being a parish councillor I also serve as borough councillor for Euxton North.

 

Tommy Gray

 

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Christopher Hickey

Christopher was co-opted to the Parish Council at the Council meeting in February 2008.

 

Chris Hickey

Carl Hindle

Carl was co-opted to the Parish Council at the Council meeting in September 2007.

 

 

sorry no photo yet

Eric Jones
I was born in Preston and have lived in Euxton for 46 years. After leaving school I started work as an Apprentice Electrician at the then Royal Ordnance Factory on Euxton Lane, and, I am still there today (yes it is still open and will be for a few years to come). Having had a varied career which included management experience in the Maintenance Department and later as a Production Manager I recently took on the post of Security Manager for the facility and have responsibilities for Safe Systems of Work.

I was keen to be a Parish Councillor as I was concerned that Euxton was losing its character and tradition, being swallowed up by the ever-increasing need for houses.

I would like to see Euxton stay as a village where families can feel safe and enjoy life. I have a particular interest in the youth of the village, and it is here that I would like to improve the facilities that are provided for recreational use, and would value any idea's you may have that could help along the way to achieving this.

In 2006/7 Eric served as the Vice Chairman for the Council.

In May 2007 Eric was elected to be Chairman for 2007/2008.

 

 

Eric Jones

Brian Leyden

Carl was co-opted to the Parish Council at the Council meeting in September 2007.

 

 

sorry no photo yet

John Matson
John joined the Parish Council in 1993. He and his wife Diane moved to Euxton over 15 years ago to raise their two sons Anthony and Robert.

 

 

John Matson

Alan Mercer

My name is Alan Mercer and I am 57 years of age. I have lived permanently in Euxton since 1994 when I married Marie, the present Council Chair.

I was born and raised in Gt Harwood and have lived most of my adult life in Blackburn. Both Marie and I have been married previously. We have four children between us, three girls and one boy. We also have three grandchildren, all of them girls. You can see that I was born to be nagged to death. It's no wonder that I am losing my hair.

I am an active trade unionist and I am currently employed as a trade union convenor with a company called Boxclever. This company was formed when Radio Rentals and Granada TV Rentals merged.
I am also an elected member of the Amicus National Executive, the body that manages the affairs of the largest trade union in the country. I am also a long serving member of the Labour Party and a member of the union's political committee.

I am also a newly qualified driving instructor, having taken a course when I fully expected to be made redundant. I also have a number of interests although time to enjoy them is increasingly short. I am a keen photographer and enjoy most sports. I played competitive badminton until the rigours of age caught up with me. I am also for my sins an avid supporter of Manchester City Football Club.

I am also chair of ERASE but lean very heavily on the other members of that organisation. It has gone very quiet on this front lately but, make no mistake, the threat of a massive quarry on the edge of our fair village is no less than it was in the spring of this year.

Although it is pretty obvious that I have a serious interest in active politics I can assure the parishioners that none of this matters in my service to the Parish Council.

I consider that the parish of Euxton adopted me some years ago and it gives me pleasure to know that I am attempting to put something back into the community.

In my time on the council I have seen a number of changes that may seem small and sometimes even insignificant to the people of Euxton but, which when put together, enhance the quality of life for our parishioners.
The Millennium Green was a landmark project which is highly visible to us all. Less obvious but just as important was the help we gave to the Community Centre, the upgading and continued maintenance of Greenside playing fields and the continuing improvements to the children's play areas, the flowers at strategic parts of the village. Also the Councils support, financial and spiritual, to a host of local organisations and clubs such as Euxton Villa and the cricket club for instance.

It has been an absolute pleasure to help councillors of the parish of Euxton improve the life of the village and long may that continue.

 

Alan Mercer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Marie Mercer
I was born and raised in the province of Northern Ireland. I lived there until, as a result of the "troubles", my family and I where forced to leave due to the security situation.

I was, at the time, working as a hairstylist in the centre of Belfast. The owner of the business was a wonderful man that ignored the sectarianism and employed people irrespective of their
religion. I realised that I had to leave when he and I received threats to our lives.

We moved to Preston initially as my husband was employed by what was then BAC.
We moved, firstly, to Coppull and then, twenty eight years ago, the family moved to Euxton.
I have two daughters to my first husband and two step children from my second marriage. My two girls both attended St. Mary's Primary school. I used to provide voluntary help at the play school and the Brownies which used the old black hut behind the community centre which many of the residents fondly remember.

Euxton has been good for my family and when I saw the opportunity to join the parish council I jumped at the chance.

The village of Euxton is a thriving and expanding community and it is a pleasure and a privilege for me to, in my small way, help in improving the lives of our parishioners, and enhancing the facilities open to us all.

It was a surprising honour for me when I was elected to the chairmanship of the council for 2005/6. It was a daunting task but with the invaluable help of my vice chair and the expert guidance of our clerk, along with the goodwill of all my fellow Councillors, this year has just flown by. I shall continue as a Councillor as long as the people of Euxton will have me.

Marie was re-elected to serve as Chair for 2006/7.

 

 

Marie Mercer

 

 

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Simon Newell

I was very fortunate to be accepted onto the Euxton Parish Council in June 2006.

I was born in Chorley and have worked in Euxton at a long established company at the heart of the village for over 20 years, starting at the age of 16 as a warehouse operative and working my way up to the position of Director. I believe I have obtained a wide variety of skills and have a very straightforward, pragmatic, common sense approach to most things.

As a member of the Euxton Parish Council, I intend to put something back into the community, working with my fellow councillors, who have a vast amount of experience between them.

I am looking forward to attending local meetings, supporting and liaising on local police issues and initiatives, and most importantly listening directly to the community, hearing about your issues.

Parish Councils are established to improve the quality of life in the community, an objective I shall keep closely in mind. I intend to pursue my new role with vigour and passion. I welcome contact from any member of the parish on any local issues.

 

Simon Newell

 

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Alan Platt

Alan was co-opted to the Parish Council at the Council meeting in June 2006.

 

 

sorry no photo yet

Barrie Robins

Barrie was co-opted to the Parish Council at the Council meeting in March 2008.

 

Barrie Robins

Eveline Sutton
Eveline joined the Parish Council on 20 January 1994 and was Chairman in 2002/3.

She has always been involved with local life since moving to Euxton from Liverpool, due to her husbands work, some 30 years ago. When her three sons were younger Eveline was involved with the PTFA and helping at Balshaw Lane school from trips to assisting in school. As the boys got older she became a trustee of the Youth Club through the Parish Council. She also finds time to be a governor of St Mary's Catholic Primary School. All this whilst looking after her family and working full time at the family business in Preston with her husband.

Eveline says about the council, "the mix of people on the parish council with different backgrounds, ages, experiences bring new ideas, views and solutions to old problems - but all are in the best interest of the village and that is main reason why I find enjoyment and satisfaction from being a councillor".

 

 

Eveline Sutton

 

 

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Keith Wallbank
Cllr Wallbank has been on the Council Euxton Parish since 1995 and has served as Chairman for two consecutive years in 1998/1999 and 1999/2000. In 2005/6 he is serving as Vice Chairman.

Keith briefly came off the Council following the May 2006 election but was co-opted back on in June 2006.

 

Keith Wallbank

Simon Wellerd
Simon Wellerd has been an Euxton Parish Councillor since 1991. He was Chairman in 2001/2002 following two years of being Vice Chairman to the Council and Chairman of the Safety, Highways and Footpaths Committee for five years before that.

Simon has lived in Euxton for over 25 years and brought his two children, James and Hayley up in the village. Working at Washington Hall Fire Training Centre and previously in the Fire Service as a fireman Simon leads an active live and is a keen sportsman, his passions include football, swimming and bowling.

 

 

Simon Wellerd

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Chairman List:

2008/09 Councillor Eric Jones
2007/08 Councillor Eric Jones
2006/07 Councillor Marie Mercer
2005/06 Councillor Marie Mercer
2004/05 Councillor Mary Gray
2003/04 Councillor Mary Gray
2002/03 Councillor Eveline Sutton
2001/02 Councillor Simon Wellerd
2000/01 Councillor Geoff Witts
1999/00 Councillor Keith Wallbank
1998/99 Councillor Keith Wallbank

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