Category: Councillor

• Saffron Walden Town Council - Audley Ward (Councillor)

Cllr Deryk Eke is a recently retired Chartered Civil Engineer with over 40 years’ experience of delivering major national infrastructure projects worldwide including in America, Europe, South East Asia and back home in the UK.

He was raised in Lower Sheering and schooled nearby in Sawbridgeworth and Harlow. He has been married for nearly 40 years and lived in and around the Saffron Walden area for more than 30 years.

In 1994 he and his wife returned from a major project in Hong Kong. Deryk says that they were “living in Great Bardfield at the time, but managed to secure places for our children at Saffron Walden County High, not something you could hope to do now!”

Since they moved into Saffron Walden town, Deryk says that the “explosion in house building, increase in traffic, deterioration in air quality, and lack of school and medical facilities” are all aspects that he and his children noticed more and more, and that is part of what has spurred him on to stand to represent other residents.

He says that “The district council must be prepared to stand up for the residents and demand developers give back to the community, and R4U is the best party to make that happen because it only answers to local people.”

Deryk belies that “with my experience and passion for delivering successful projects I can help improve our quality of life and better living environment across Uttlesford.”

• Uttlesford District Takeley Ward (Councillor)

Maggie Sutton is an experienced and active campaigner on local issues. She believes that to make a difference people have to get up and get involved.

Maggie knows the importance of community. She knows that Takeley has a strong active community, good schools and nursery, along with many clubs and associations at its heart. She served as a Governor at Takeley Roseacres School for during the period its move to the new site.

She is also passionate about the local area, its history, archaeology, and countryside.

Maggie was previously a member of the executive committee of Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) from its inception in 2002, working out of the office at The Old School in Takeley for much of that time. She says that being part of SSE gave her “a massive opportunity to become familiar with every part Takeley where I have attended and helped organise many consultation, campaign, outreach and fundraising events. Through that I have association with many Parish council representatives and many, many people who live in the area.”

Of the airport, she says “I am very aware what being a neighbour to Stansted Airport means for Takeley residents. Clearly there are jobs, but also major concerns about noise, light and air pollution, and major traffic and parking issues.”

Maggie also served on the committee of campaign group Stop Easton Park. She believes that the siting of Landsec’s proposed new town would be extremely detrimental to the area of historic area of Easton Park and beyond. She believes that strategic planning must be undertaken and proper controls put in place to protect the uniqueness of our countryside as our district expands.

Maggie realised she needed to take the next step to represent residents, and so joined R4U.

She said “As I attend UDC council meetings on matters such as housing and the airport I become very concerned and anxious. I saw that those elected to represent us here simply take their lead from the party they represent in parliament. It seems evident that local people do not matter to them. I joined R4U to be the residents’ candidate to represent Takeley and the communities of Broxted, Chickney, and Little Canfield. I truly believe, Residents for Uttlesford provide the ONLY platform we have to be properly represented at in the district council.”

Since being elected to UDC, Maggie has represented the Takeley ward. She is also the UDC Portfolio Holder for Communities.

Maggie Sutton has strong family and community ties to the Takeley ward. She lived in Boxted for many years while her children were growing up. She has five grown up children, all which live in Uttlesford. She currently lives in Lindsell with her family.

• Saffron Walden Town Council - Shire Ward (Councillor)

Dave McLellan has spent a career as a business analyst and project manager in financial services.

He and his family have lived in Saffron Walden for 22 years. His children have both been through local primary and secondary schools. He volunteers for the Saffron Screen and wildlife groups.

He says he stood for Saffron Walden Town Council because “I saw what a great job Residents for Uttlesford had done at the town council and want to help them continue to make Saffron Walden a great place to live.”

He is particularly interested in the R4U’s policies to reduce single-use plastic waste and increasing the use of sustainable transport.

Dave said he first wanted to stand for Residents for Uttlesford because “R4U seem to really care about what residents want and deliver on it. The work they have done around the Saffron Walden Common and the installation of drinking fountains are examples of ways to improve where we live. I think it’s important that local councils are run by the community not political parties, and R4U provides the means for that to happen.”