SIXTY-FIVE candidates have put themselves forward for the Winchester City Council local elections. 

On May 4, residents will be able to vote for one candidate in 16 wards. Sitting councillors are marked with an *. 

We invited every candidate standing in the Winchester City Council local election to submit 100-word profiles. 

These are the candidates standing in Whiteley and Wonston wards and their own words as to why they are standing. 

Whiteley & Shedfield 

Sudhakar Achwal – Liberal Democrats 

Dr Sudhakar Achwal and his wife Vivian were one of the first Whiteley residents 25 years ago.

Sudhakar is well known as a volunteer in many local charities, he is committed to serving the local community.

A retired chemical engineer, Sudhakar worked on large projects globally - he knows how to get things done.

He is a volunteer for many local charities including Communicare, Royal Voluntary Service and Fishermen’s Mission.

Sudhakar’s priorities are campaigning for safer residential roads, protecting our precious local rivers and streams, and listening and acting on local residents’ concerns. 

Hampshire Chronicle: Whiteley & Shedfield - Sudhakar Achwal

Tom Garth – Conservative 

I’ve always looked to do my part to improve our wider community; from tutoring Mathematics and English here in Whiteley, to working on wards at Gosport War Memorial Hospital during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Having lived in this community my whole life, I’ve grown up experiencing the great change that our area has seen.

I am determined to work to maintain the safe and welcoming environment we all enjoy here. If elected as your councillor, you can rely on me to take on the task with energy, ensuring action on local priorities.

Hampshire Chronicle: Tom Garth

Nicholas John – Green 

When we practice sustainability in our daily lives, it impacts positively on our own well-being – meaning that personal well-being and environmental sustainability need not be mutually exclusive goals. 

My focus is on improving our well-being (something that needs to be made more of a priority), by bringing bold and innovative solutions. 

We need to reduce cars, plant more trees and join the Green Party – the only party that cares for our wellbeing! 

Hampshire Chronicle: Whiteley & Shedfield, Nicholas John

Alison Ridley – Labour 

No response 

 

Wonston & Micheldever 

Andrew Adams – Liberal Democrats 

Andy has lived in Micheldever for 16 years. He’s passionate about ensuring that our villages remain thriving and sustainable rural communities.

Andy wants a fresh start for Wonston & Micheldever. He wants to meet the challenges of the cost of living crisis, whilst protecting what makes this such a special place to live.

Andy has experience of getting things done, and delivering services in challenging circumstances.

He is a parish councillor, who actively promotes his rural community to ensure access to quality services for all our residents, and will do the same on Winchester City Council. 

Hampshire Chronicle: Andrew Adams – Liberal Democrats 

Antony De Payer – Labour 

Antony, a retired teacher, has lived in Winchester for 30 years.

He has been an active member of the Labour Party for almost all of that time.

Between 2003 and 2007 he served as Labour councillor for the former St John’s and All Saints Ward, where he served on the planning committee and helped residents with problems, such as housing.

His interest in planning was part of a much wider concern for the environment, both urban and rural as is a member both of the RSPB and the Wildlife Trust. 

Hampshire Chronicle: Antony de Peyer

*Caroline Horrill – Conservative 

Councillor Caroline Horrill was elected in 2014 and currently represents 7,984 residents across the six parishes of Crawley, Littleton, Micheldever, South Wonston, Sparsholt and Wonston, covering 109.8 km² in the Wonston & Micheldever ward and is the leader of the WCC Conservative Councillors. 

Caroline was born in Hampshire and lived in the New Forest as a child. She now lives in Sparsholt with her husband Alastair and their Labrador Indi. 

Caroline believes in community and has been part of her village for many years serving as a churchwarden, parish councillor, shop volunteer and more recently as a school governor. 

Hampshire Chronicle: Caroline Horrill Conservative

Julia Stolle – Green 

Julia has lived in Hampshire with her family for 2 decades.  She is concerned about air pollution, the increased risk of flooding due to overdevelopment, and the underfunding of our schools, hospitals, and doctor’s surgeries. 

Many politicians still believe that more roads are the answer when more roads only create more traffic.  A frequent and affordable public transport network is required so that people don’t need to travel by car anymore. 

Julia believes that insulating our homes, investing in green technology and subsidising solar panels on homes will bring energy prices down and create a fairer and more equal society. 

Hampshire Chronicle: Wonston and Micheldever, Julia Stolle