Dear Sir,

After much deliberation and thought, I would like to announce my intention to stand as a candidate in the Woodham Ward of Great Aycliffe Town Council.

I am a retired Health Care Worker who worked for decades in our local N.H.S. Trust, although now retired, I continue to do some voluntary work within our two local N.H.S. Trusts providing support and information for Health Care Workers.

I am extremely proud of our N.H.S. to the point that a few years ago I volunteered and joined “The Peoples March For The N.H.S.”, walking the 300 miles from Jarrow to London, following in the footsteps of the original Jarrow Marchers, to highlight the many issues outstanding within our N.H.S. and hopefully raised awareness of our great institution, which provides health care from cradle to grave to all, free, at the point of service.

I have lived in Woodham since 1993 and I am very proud of being a Trustee and Management Committee member for the last eight years at our very own and excellent Woodham Community Centre, which supports many local community schemes including the excellent Defibrillator scheme around our town.

I will not make any false or inaccurate statements, which I can not deliver, such as promising to cut double taxation or reducing our town council tax by very large percentages. Woodham and Newton Aycliffe are great places to live in and enjoy the many facilities available and I would concentrate my efforts and responsibilities to benefit our ward and town.

I will be standing as an official Labour candidate, but would like to add that I am not a member of Momentum, nor have I ever been.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I would be very grateful for your support in this election. Please use your vote and let’s look to a bright future for our great town.

Neil Collinson

Labour candidate Woodham Ward