Bishops Lydeard Ward—Your local Conservative Councillors

including the villages of Ash Priors, Combe Florey, Cotford St Luke, Cothelstone, Halse and West Bagborough

Tony Beaven

Born in Devon in Exbourne, I moved all over the world with my family before finally settling in Cotford St Luke some seven years ago.  I have been much involved in village life since then, running the first Cotford St Luke fete back in the Millennium year.  This raised enough to equip the community centre with chairs, tables and other equipment.

I also resurrected the Bishop Lydeard players after a break of ten years and produced a variety of plays including ‘The Last Tango in Bishops Lydeard’.

With the help of Ron Bush, I raised most of the funds for the new Petanque Club in Cotford St Luke. 

Joanna Lewin-Harris

With my husband, Michael, I have lived and worked at Conquest Farm for the past 25 years and raised our family here.  Our three children are now grown up and we much enjoy our role as grandparents.

I have been involved with many local organisations, including the Riding for the Disabled based here at Conquest, the Parish Council, Cotford St Luke Community Association, North Deane Tenants and Residents Association, and St Mary’s Church.

I was closely connected with the development of the Multi Use Games area in Bishops Lydeard and am still involved in running it.  I have been an active supporter of Greenway Hall and Bishops Lydeard Football Club.

Peter Watson

I was born and raised in Taunton.  I saw service with the Army in Berlin, Norway and Aden and have since had a lifelong career in the food industry.  

I came to Bishops Lydeard 25 years ago and took over the village butcher’s shop.  This has been one of the village hubs for many years as well as being a very successful business.  I enjoyed running a business in Bishops Lydeard and am grateful for the support I received. 

I now feel I have the time and experience to give something back to the community. 

Over the past four years, your Conservative councillors have been very active on your behalf. 

The concerns of individuals throughout the ward are important to us, and we have dealt with many and varied problems and queries over the past four years.    We have also worked closely with the Parish Council and Cotford Community Association and much has been achieved.

Cotford St Luke now has a thriving community centre, a very successful shop, a skateboard ramp and other facilities for young people and a petanque pitch.   Unfinished roads have been a problem, but constant pressure on the County Council and the developers has at last produced results and Coftons have finally started on the roads.  There is also, at last, the real prospect of a pub/restaurant in the Chapel.  

In Bishops Lydeard,  a lot of our work has focussed on speeding traffic and parking, vandalism and litter.  We have arranged for frequent removal of graffiti in the underpass under the A358 and regularly reported problems with litter and litterbins to Taunton Deane.    Further traffic calming measures as you enter Bishops Lydeard from the north are expected soon.  

Our priorities are:

§ Preserving the quality of life of residents

§ Listening and responding to the concerns of individuals

§ Working very closely with Parish Councils and community groups throughout the ward

§ Keeping Council Tax increases below the rate of inflation

§ A more consistent police presence in our villages

§ More facilities for young people

§ Finished roads and a pub/restaurant in Cotford 

§ Better cycle and bus links between Cotford St Luke and Bishops Lydeard