Residents’ parties and independents form alliance at Essex County Council to become official opposition

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After the recent successful Essex County Council (ECC) elections, Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) has formed an alliance with similar residents and independent councillors to become the official opposition group at ECC.

Paul Gadd (R4U) Paul Gadd (R4U)

R4U’s Cllr Paul Gadd, Essex County Councillor for the Saffron Walden division, said “The residents’ movement is growing across Essex. As a result the largest number of residents’ and independent councillors were elected in the recent county council elections. At ECC we have joined with them to form what is called a ‘non-aligned’ group, which because of its size, is now the official opposition at ECC.”

Cllr Chris Pond (LRA) Chris Pond (Loughton Residents)

Cllr Gadd continued “The new grouping is led by long-serving Loughton Residents Association Councillor Chris Pond, who we know well and have an excellent working relationship with. In addition to both myself and Martin Foley as R4U councillors, the group includes councillors from Basildon, Canvey Island, Rochford, Southminster and Tendring. This important alliance gives our grouping a stronger say in decision making, more seats on committees, and increased power to work within ECC to try to secure a better service for our residents.”

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About Residents for Uttlesford

Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) is the local independent party of north-west Essex towns and villages. It believes that on local issues residents should decide, not Westminster parties. R4U’s success has been based on the desire to give local people a voice and implement long range strategic and sustainable plans for where they live. It has turned around both councils it has been elected to lead to make them now multi award-winning.

R4U leads Uttlesford District Council (UDC). In its first election in 2015 it became the second party at UDC. In May 2019, it gained majority control of the authority by inflicting the biggest loss of seats on any Conservative controlled council in the UK. In May 2023, R4U retained control of UDC.

R4U also leads Saffron Walden Town Council, where under its stewardship the council since 2015 it has rebuilt finances, invested in community assets, and won multiple awards, including the best run council in Essex.

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

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