FOLLOWING the resignation of Ferris Cowper from his Headley division seat on Hampshire County Council, voters will head to the polls next week to decide who will replace him.

Mr Cowper announced last month that he would be standing down from his role representing Grayshott, Liphook and Headley at the county council, to focus on his “time-consuming work” as leader of East Hampshire District Council as well as “steering” the regeneration of Whitehill and Bordon.

So, ahead of election day on Thursday, May 5, the Herald invited candidates to explain why they want your votes.

PETER BAILLIE UKIP

THE Hampshire ward of Headley has been my home for more than 30 years.

Our part of England has long been dominated by Conservatives - a domination which Prime Minister David Cameron and his party believe is theirs by right. This has bred a disdain for ordinary people which is all too apparent in his fear-mongering tactics in the EU Referendum campaign.

My first allegiance, like all UKIP Hampshire county councillors, would be to my community. We are free to act in whatever way is best for the people we represent - unlike Conservative councillors who are controlled by remote, political masters.

I am deeply concerned at the way large-scale housing developments are changing the character of a place we love. This is something I would vigorously oppose. Local government should be on the side of local people rather than profit-driven development companies.

I would also oppose Conservative cuts to local spending with its tragic impact on the most vulnerable.

As the parent of a disabled child, I value the need for compassion rather than cold-hearted austerity.

I would fight Conservative plans to end the link between elected local authorities and our children’s’ education by turning our schools into “academies”. It is another example of the Conservative “I know best” contempt for local beliefs.

While I support the devolution of more power to local authorities, I fear that this will be an empty gesture unless we stop the endless power grab by unelected EU bureaucrats.

TREVOR MARONEY LIBERAL DEMOCRAT

MY family and I settled in Liphook in 1998 following military service.

I now draw a pension, having been a civil engineer, Army officer, management accountant, charity treasurer and school bursar.

In 2010 I volunteered to help the Bramshott and Liphook Parish Plan; becoming a parish councillor two years later.

I am currently chairman of both the Parish Plan and the council’s finance and policy committee.

I have learnt a great deal about making our community more vibrant and sustainable.

In my spare time I drive for Liphook Voluntary Care.

I have personally visited hundreds of households in Bramshott and Liphook, Grayshott and Headley, and am acutely aware of the concerns that exist within each one.

Residents would like to see action taken on:–

• Preserving children’s services;

• Reducing traffic congestion;

• Improving car-parking provision;

• Upgrading infrastructure, particularly drainage;

• Retaining the Bordon recycling depot;

• Improving sports facilities;

• Keeping management of schools local, and improving public transport.

I am now determined to use my knowledge and experience to tackle these issues for the benefit of the wider community by becoming your representative on Hampshire County Council for Headley Division.

If elected, I will to listen to your concerns and endeavour to find practical solutions to them.

FLOSS MITCHELL CONSERVATIVE

I WAS born and grew up in the Hampshire-Surrey borders.

My husband and I lived in Farnham before moving to Headley in 2010, with our two teenaged sons.

We quickly put down roots in the local community through our membership of St Luke’s Church, Grayshott.

As a barrister by training and now working for the student ombudsman, I have spent all of my working life solving problems and finding just and fair outcomes for people.

Now I want to do just that for my local community.

I help out my husband in his family business so I understand what it’s like to run a small business.

It’s an honour to be standing for election as a Hampshire county councillor.

I am enjoying meeting residents from the three parishes, listening to their concerns and ideas.

If elected, I want to be as accessible as possible to residents, listening, responding, and putting my problem-solving skills to good use.

I will give regular reports to our parish councils and attend as many council meetings as I can so that residents know what I am doing.

We live in such a great area, and working together we can make it even better.