Residents’ champions stand up for Newport and Sampford in Uttlesford District Council By-Elections

Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) is fielding candidates in both Uttlesford District Council by-elections on 6th May for the Newport and Sampfords wards.

Judy Emanuel (R4U)

Newport Uttlesford District ward councillor Neil Hargraves said “Judy Emanuel is standing up for the Newport Ward second seat, and Uli Gerhard for the Sampfords Ward. They are outstanding candidates, who if elected will put their ward residents first. Please support both district council candidates – and your Residents Essex County Council candidates too.”

R4U’s Neil Hargreaves continued “Judy Emanuel is an accomplished Newport Parish Councillor and we work well as a team. Her career spans start-ups, recruiting companies and a large IT consultancy. She’s been part of the driving force behind the Newport Quendon & Rickling Neighbourhood Plan and been successful at appeals stopping major unsustainable development in the ward. She’s highly active in the ward, where she lives with her family.”

Uli Gerhard (R4U)

R4U’s Cllr Martin Foley, who represents the Thaxted and the Eastons ward which adjoins the Sampfords ward, added “Radwinter ex-school governor Uli Gerhard has a career in banking and investment portfolio management. He’s an avid beekeeper who cares about rural village life. He is married to local GP Dr Yvonne Girgis-Hanna and their children attend SWCHS. The Sampfords by-election is happening due to the sudden passing of our dear friend and colleague R4U’s Cllr Alan Storah, who loved representing the ward.”

R4U’s Martin Foley concluded “Two years ago residents elected R4U to lead UDC as the party of positive change – and we have delivered. The inherited £multi-million financial hole has been fixed, the previous administration’s failed Local Plan is back on track, and we’re fighting at appeal to prevent an unsustainable airport expansion. New income is delivering sports facilities, a £1m climate change programme, and a £1m Covid High Street and local economy recovery programme. But there is much more to do. Electing Residents for Uttlesford’s Judy Emanuel and Uli Gerhard to UDC will give ward residents the best local representation possible and help us make more positive changes at UDC.”

Essex County Council - Your Residents Candidates

There are 4 county divisions in Uttlesford. Here are our candidates.

Cllr Geoff Bagnall

Essex County Dunmow Division

Experienced councillor Geoff Bagnall is the chair of the new UDC Local Plan working group. He’s standing against the ECC councillor whose 2 previous failed Local Plans cost Uttlesford taxpayers £6m. Outside of the council he has a career fixing performance at financial companies and the skills to drive improvements. He’s standing for the ECC Dunmow Division.

Bianca Donald

Essex County Stansted Division

Bianca Donald has taught in our schools since 2004 and understands parents’ frustration as budgets have been slashed and local school choice eradicated. She’s standing against Ray Gooding, the ECC cabinet member who is responsible for Education and the school bus safety fiasco. Bianca feels that with better representation ECC can be more responsive to Uttlesford residents’ needs.

Cllr Martin Foley

Essex County Thaxted Division

Thaxted resident Martin has been a UDC councillor since 1995. His long tenure is because he’s very active in his community and always focuses on putting his ward residents’ needs first. He’s a visible campaigner for our rural environment and has worked to save Thaxted library from ECC cuts. He’s fought against airport expansion and the proposed new green-field town in Easton Park.

Cllr Paul Gadd

Essex County Saffron Walden Division

Paul Gadd is the Leader at Saffron Walden Town Council where over 6 years he’s lead the turnaround from inherited financial mess to now award-winning Best Council in Essex. He’s a lawyer by career and very community minded. He volunteers with Saffron Walden Cricket Club, the Fry Art Gallery and Bridge End Gardens as well as being heavily involved with the local branches of Friends of the Earth and Amnesty International.

District Council and Town Council By-Elections - Your Residents Candidates

There are by-elections in Newport, the Sampfords and Saffron Walden wards.

Cllr Judy Emanuel

Uttlesford District Newport Ward

Judy Emanuel’s career spans from start-ups to a large IT consultancy. She’s highly active in Newport, fundraising for local causes and schools, serving on the PTA and parish council. She was on the core team delivering the Newport Quendon & Rickling Neighbourhood Plan, and has been successful at appeals stopping major unsustainable developments.

Uli Gerhard

Uttlesford District Sampfords Ward

Uli has PhD in Chemistry from Cambridge and a career in investment banking. During the pandemic he has also been volunteering in local vaccination centres. Uli cares passionately about our rural environment and his spare time he’s an avid beekeeper. He and his wife, local GP Dr Yvonne Girgis-Hanna, live in Radwinter and their children attend SWCHS.

Katherine Gregory

Saffron Walden Town Council – Little Walden Ward

As the daughter of a heritage architect, Katherine is keen to make sure our built environment is protected and enhanced as our area develops. She is a freelance journalist who has worked for many national and regional titles and is standing for the Saffron Walden Town Council Little Walden Ward.

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About Residents for Uttlesford

Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) is the local independent party of north-west Essex towns and villages. Formed in 2014 by a number of residents’ groups, the party believes that on local issues residents should decide, not Westminster parties.

R4U leads Uttlesford District Council (UDC). It is the fastest growing local political movement in its district. In its first election in 2015 it became the second party at UDC. In 2017 it solidified its position with a further by-election gain with 60% of the vote. In the May 2019 Local Elections R4U gained majority control of UDC winning two-thirds of the seats. The result delivered the biggest loss of seats by any UK Conservative controlled council in the UK.

R4U’s success has been based on the desire to give local people a voice and implement long range strategic and sustainable plans for their area.

R4U also leads Saffron Walden Town Council, where under its stewardship the council has rebuilt finances, invested in community assets, and won multiple awards, including the best run council in Essex. It is a minority party on Great Dunmow Town Council.

Residents for Uttlesford can be found on the web at www.residents4u.org.