Conservative Candidate: Stamford Marthews
Biographical Details
Stamford Marthews is the Treasurer of the Wolvercote Conservative Branch.
He is married to Caroline, a nurse at St Luke's, Oxford. They have four
grown up children, all educated at schools in Oxford. Stamford and Caroline
have lived and worked in Oxford since 1987.
Formerly a member of the South Oxfordshire District Council, he was Chairman
of the Housing Committee from 1993 to 1995 and Chairman of the Competitive
Tendering Board.
An active Rotarian, he serves on a number of charitable committees and chairs
his club's International and Foundation committee. A keen gardener, he is
also interested in boating, drama and foreign travel. A writer on technical
subjects, he has worked in the Ward since 1995 and is well aware of the
pressures faced by local people.
Letter to voters
"Dear Voter
Wolvercote is a very pleasant place in which to live, let us keep it that
way.
I pledge myself to preserve the environment which is under threat from the
new housing projections and the removal of controls over Green Belt land
that the Conservatives have opposed. The likely urban sprawl threatens the
beauties of Port Meadow, the canal and the river. Their protection is one
of my priorities.
Our environment is threatened also by the Oxford Transport Strategy, which
has been pushed through with opposition only from the Conservatives. These
proposals will mean the diversion of hundreds of vehicles per hour from
Headington, up the Marston Ferry link into North Oxford. The Wolvercote
roundabout will become even busier than it is now, as it will be the easiest
route to the city centre. The drastic proposals for changes in traffic patterns
are ludicrous and should not be implemented unless we obtain improvements
to the ring road and in the provision of public transport.
An immediate priority is the control of commuter parking, and the introduction
of a scheme of residents parking throughout Wolvercote.
I believe that our retired citizens deserve free bus passes, as is provided
in some other parts of the country. Free passes would avoid delays and
administrative cost.
I strongly support Wolvercote First School in its fight to maintain its
position in face of the projected move of St Philip and St James First School
to the old Bishop Kirk School site in Middle Way, against the wishes of
parents and local people. This move, if Labour and the Liberal Democrats
succeed in pushing it through, poses a threat to Wolvercote First School.
If elected, I intend to be an effective spokesman for your needs.
Yours sincerely
Stamford Marthews
Conservative Policy Statement
What has happened since the Election.....
The Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats have produced a budget full of
broken promises:
100,000 more people on the N H S waiting lists.
Teachers are to be sacked, just when standards need to be raised and class
sizes reduced.
Oxford and Cambridge are to be denied their special education grants.
Parents are to be denied freedom of choice and diversity in education:
- the assisted places scheme is abolished
- the right of parents to a vote in the future of their child's secondary
school is to be denied
- the maintenance of standards through OFSTED is under attack.
Pensioners, in spite of all the promises made, have been short changed.
The extra improvements promised before the election are now forgotten.
The Green Belt is attacked and urban sprawl encouraged.
Constant attacks are being made on the people who live and work in rural
areas. These together with increases in motoring costs and restrictions
on the use of private vehicles, without the introduction of adequate public
transport, drive up the cost of country living and isolate families.
Conservatives support....
Diversity and choice in education
We believe that parents have a right to choose the education that best suits
their child's talents and that this should not be restricted by their personal
means.
We support the right of parents, teachers and governors to decide to leave
the Local Education Authority, if that is agreed to be in the best interest
of the school and its pupils.
Adequate funding for schools
There are many well qualified and hard working teachers within the state
system of education, who are a vital part of our society. They do not deserve
to be made the scapegoats for economic mismanagement of the County's educational
budget Theirs should be the first call on resources, they should not be
the first to be threatened with redundancy.
The National Curriculum, the regular inspection of schools, the testing
of pupils and the publication of examination results. These measures have
the support of the majority of dedicated professional teachers who wish
to see their schools and pupils succeed.
Conservatives support the OFSTED system of school inspection which has ensured
that public money is well spent.
The retired who have a special right to our support.
Where through old age a person is unable to remain at home, they are entitled
to accommodation of good quality and compassionate care. Conservatives support
the upgrading of council accommodation and the application of rigorous standards
to those who seek to provide care.
Common sense in transport
The motor car has brought individual freedom and prosperity to millions
of people. Without it business and commerce would be devastated and families
would be isolated. Public transport in its present form is no adequate alternative.
Parking controls are essential within the City of Oxford.
We support detailed prior consultation with residents and fair and firm
enforcement. Visiting motorists must be persuaded to park in the Park and
Ride system. Vehicle exhaust gases from buses in particular are a major
element in atmospheric pollution in the City. The introduction of vehicles
powered by non-polluting fuels is long overdue, delayed by the vested interests
in the provision and sale of petrol. Urgent action is needed to move away
from fossil fuels and rid the county of this major hazard to health.
The campaign to defend the green belt and protect the rural nature of
the county and the life style of the many thousands who live and work in
the countryside.
Urban sprawl into the countryside beyond the Oxford ring road is quite unacceptable.
However, in addition the need for extra housing brings pressure on precious
parts of Wolvercote; Port Meadow, the canal and the riverside. These areas
must be protected. A vigorous rural economy complements the life and work
of the City of Oxford. We support the freedom of individuals to choose
how they would
live.
The targeting of Social Services resources to those in need
Fraud by a minority of benefit claimants has caused enormous losses to the
funds available to support the disabled, the sick and those on low incomes.
This has caused cut backs in the provision of vital services.We support
action to eliminate fraud and improve the delivery of Social
Services.
Modern management and financial prudence
With a budget of more than 350 million and the Council Tax increasing every
year, there is an urgent need to review the management of the budget. Conservatives
support the regular competitive tendering of County Council services.
