City council elections 2024: Warndon & Elbury Park candidates

Warndon & Elbury Park is a new ward created by a re-drawing of Worcester’s electoral map.

It contains the old Warndon ward and most of the old Gorse Hill ward - and will be represented by three councillors on Worcester City Council.

The last city council election for Warndon, in 2022, saw Labour’s Jill Desayrah elected with a majority of 139 over Tory Chris Rimell. A year earlier, the Conservatives’ Owen Cleary had won with just 12 votes more than Labour’s Ceri Stalker.

Conservative Mohammed Altaf delivered a 171 majority to defeat Labour’s Ed Kimberley in Gorse Hill in 2022, but isn’t standing this year.

In 2021, the Tories’ James Stanley had defended his Gorse Hill seat by a margin of 152 votes over Labour’s Roger Berry.

Mohammed Awais - Independent

No profile or photo provided.

Sue Braithwaite - Green Party

Sue Braithwaite (Image: Sue Braithwaite)

I have lived in Worcestershire for over 20 years and in Worcester for the last three. Self-employed, my work involves helping people develop new skills. I also support the rehabilitation of prisoners and am a former trustee of The Myriad Centre in Barbourne.

I believe that openness and kindness are at the heart of a flourishing community and I want our city to be a place that we can all enjoy. I support a thriving local economy that brings prosperity and opportunity to both people and businesses alike.

It’s important that we all live in a healthy environment and I will endeavour to maintain and improve the quality of our green spaces.

The Green Party stands for fairness and inclusion for all, and if elected I will work to represent the voices of the people of Warndon & Elbury Park on the issues which matter to them

Owen Cleary - Conservatives

Owen Cleary (Image: Owen Cleary)

Owen has been your councillor for the past three years, fighting to get our ward funded like the rest of Worcester. He helped found the Oasis Warndon food bank and designed the Rodborough/Cotswold way play and green space project. Owen is passionate about green spaces, creating community and school gardens on council and private land. His footpath review led to several streets getting new, safe footpaths, with more to come. Owen supports returning the Sunday skips cancelled by Labour/Green councillors. As a coach at Worcester amateur boxing club, Owen believes fitness and discipline are key for youngsters. Owen always fights for Warndon and Elbury Park.

Simon Cottingham - Liberal Democrats

Simon Cottingham (Image: Simon Cottingham)

Until recently Simon was CEO of an advocacy charity in Warwickshire and has lived in Worcester for the past nine years. Simon is a community and youth worker by training and has two grown up children (no grandchildren yet!).

Simon wants to see a Worcester that is at the forefront of tackling climate change, biodiversity and developing more support for small businesses. He wants to make sure we are prepared for the inevitable move to electric cars and that we have the infrastructure to support this.

Jill Desayrah - Labour

Jill Desayrah (Image: Jill Desayrah)

I am standing for re-election to the city council in the new ward of Warndon and Elbury Park because of my passion for working with the community.

I’m leading the regeneration of the green space at Woodmancote. Whilst protecting its wildlife, this long-lost area is returning to the community. Spring bulbs are now in flower, raised beds are ready for planting and more improvements are planned for the autumn.

18 months since I started it, the volunteer-run Open Door Cafe is thriving at the Warndon Hub. Funded through sponsorship, it’s a place of welcome and friendship, serving around 50 free, home cooked lunches each week.

I’ve consistently taken action on fly tipping and antisocial behaviour, hold regular litter picks and helped many residents with their housing problems. But it is the community spirit here that makes me love it and want to carry on.

Shazad Ditta - Conservatives

No profile or photo provided.

Sarah Dukes - Green Party

Sarah Dukes (Image: Sarah Dukes)

I have lived in Worcester with my husband and two children since 2005, and am an English teacher and eco co-ordinator at a high school in Malvern. If elected to represent Warndon and Elbury Park I would prioritise getting private landlords to insulate houses properly to combat fuel proverty, and making sure we hit our target of a carbon-neutral city by 2030.

The Green Party has already made such a positive impact in Worcester: cleaning up areas, engaging with communities, campaigning for safer roads, tackling loneliness, developing and defending our green spaces - you can help keep up this momentum by voting for a party that is prepared to put the environment first, offering viable alternative solutions that will bring change and hope.

Jason Ford - Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

Jason Ford (Image: Jason Ford)

I am standing as a TUSC candidate this year because after years and years of Tory and Labour failure resulting in no affordable housing and rising cost of all bills, fuel and food, all under capitalism, shows the growing need for more socialism and the uniting of the working class, together we can end the Tory cost of living nightmare that I have lived and worked under all my life. I want to see us do well and prosper, so vote for a socialist councillor who will give us a voice.

Phil Gilfillan - Green Party

Phil Gilfillan (Image: Phil Gilfillan)

I moved to Worcester in 1988 to undergo teacher training and fell in love with my adopted city. I taught for over 20 years in Worcester and a few years ago left teaching to open a plastic-free refill shop, Pack It In, in the Cornmarket, to serve the local community. We are hoping to develop a community pantry there and run workshops.

I joined Transition Worcester, was a founding member of Plastic Free Worcester, and am now co-chair of Transition Worcester, which runs the Pitchcroft Community Garden, the Repair Café and Food Rescue. As a teacher I ran the eco schools initiative for many years. I enjoy guiding people towards becoming more sustainable, and becoming a Green councillor fits in with that.

If elected, one of my priorities would be to improve the walking and cycling network and pavements, to make it easier for people to leave their cars at home.

Naz Hussain - Labour

Naz Hussain (Image: Naz Hussain)

I live locally in the Warndon and Elbury Park ward with my family, so I understand the challenges we face day to day. Rogue landlords, fly tipping and the struggle most face with the cost of living crisis are real issues locally.

I know how hard local residents are working to stay on top of things. That’s why I want to be your voice at the city council, to help bring power back to the local area and improve life for everyone.

Whether that’s helping your business to thrive, improving access to education and healthcare, or fighting for a better bus service - my family and I know that you can count on the Labour Party to be on your side and that Labour councillors will always do their best by you. I hope you will use your votes to support me and my colleagues Jill Desayrah and Ed Kimberley on May 2.

Ed Kimberley - Labour

Ed Kimberley (Image: Ed Kimberley)

I am a local musician and teacher, and I first stood as a candidate for Gorse Hill ward in 2022. Win or lose, my promise was to be an advocate for local people. That's why I fought for the council’s Free Bulky Waste Collection Service, and it's why I fought for HMO licensing rules to be extended across the whole of Worcester: a crucial first step in the fight against rogue landlords and cowboy developers that plague our local area. Imagine how much more we could achieve if, for the first time since I was five, we had a Labour majority on the council.

We're promising investment in skills and decent jobs, more affordable housing, action on anti-social behaviour, help for struggling families, and more support for local businesses. After 14 years of Tory failure and chaos at the council, only a strong, united Labour team can secure Worcester’s future.

James Stanley - Conservatives

James Stanley (Image: James Stanley)

James lives in the heart of Warndon with his wife Angie and Gino their German Shepherd. James sees it as an honour to be able represent his home ward on the city council since 2021and with your continued support he promises to always stand up for the interests of the residents of Warndon and Elbury Park.

James’ ongoing pledge to you is to continue to deliver investment to improve the roads and pavements we all use. He will also fight to see the Saturday skips returned (removed by Labour/ Green councillors). Furthermore, he is committed to working with the police to combat the anti-social behaviour that blights our community.

In his spare time James plays golf, watches cricket (my playing days are sadly over) and enjoys cooking and the occasional glass of wine.