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Well respected: Ian Wilder, who died in July aged 62 |
Battle lines drawn in fight for a West End vacancy
Ian Wilder ‘a hard act to follow’ for by-election candidates
A PROPERTY magnate is the front runner in next week’s council by-election.
Jonathan Glanz will represent the Conservatives on Thursday in the contest to see who will fill the West End ward seat left following Councillor Ian Wilder’s death in July.
His opponents will be for Labour Damian Dewhirst, a local government consultant who has stood once previously, 25-year-old Christopher Gonzalez for the Liberal Democrats and Tristan Smith for the Green Party.
Mr Glanz, 49, is not new to local politics, having chaired the Marylebone Association for three years and he is also chairman of the BBC Community Liaison Group as part of the redevelopment of Broadcasting House.
It is his first stab at Town Hall politics.
Mr Dewhirst, 48, who lives in Marylebone will be looking to scupper a night of Tory celebrations on Thursday.
The long time Labour Party member says the council’s arrogance towards local people’s needs has gone on long enough.
Among his priorities are more social housing, reviving vacant properties and a tree-planting drive.
But if, as they say, history is doomed to repeat itself then it will be Mr Glanz and Tory blue that come through on Thursday night.
The Conservatives have controlled all three seats since 2002.
Mr Glanz, who lives metres outside the ward, also in Marylebone, promises to keep the fire and energy of Cllr Wilder alive (“a hard act to follow” as he put it).
The former lawyer turned property developer says his priorities are to encourage more families back into the West End, as well as carrying on the battle against unscrupulous landlords and noisy bars.
“I think the West End should look to Europe and what’s happening up the road in Marylebone where families have moved back into the area.
“All new developments should have decent provision for children, squares should be given back to their communities and we need to do a lot more with our roofs and vertical gardening so families will want to live in flats like they do in the great European cities.
“The West End is the centre of the universe but we have got some things wrong. The eastern end of Oxford Street is a case in point. Given its history it should be an area to be proud of but it’s a mess. That’s one thing I would love to help sort out.”
The right to have a “good night’s sleep”, balanced against the rights of businesses, is the lens that Mr Glanz sees most of the West End’s problems.
“I think most problems arise from where people’s rights are out of kilter. It’s not about stopping licensed premises all together, but regulating them. Especially when they try to move to an area where nothing like that has been there previously. People should know that if they live on Old Compton Street it’s going to be noisy.”
Mr Dewhirst said: “The West End is a great place to live. It would be greater still if it were more livable in. That’s what the Tories don’t get.
“The council is not there to serve the interests of speculators and bar owners.
“It should be for us, ordinary residents. The Tory council has allowed property speculation without any apparent control and given the peddlers of expensive booze and cheap sex free rein.
“Local democracy is about putting people first not profits. With this council you wonder if they have forgotten that. Local businesses are important but at the end of the day they have to serve us, not the other way around.”
Mr Gonzalez, a recent graduate of Nottingham University and former classmate of Euan Blair, also paid tribute to Ian Wilder.
He said: “I never knew him personally, but he was clearly passionately committed to the people he served. Even if I didn’t agree with all his politics I think that deserves huge respect.”
He supports the idea of an Oxford Street tram and more affordable homes in new developments.
“Westminster has enough luxury apartments for billionaires. We are in danger of seeing families driven out of the West End altogether, so the council must act now to keep housing in the area affordable,” he added.
| West End Ward Result 2006 |
Turnout 25.8 per cent |
| GM Roberts |
Con |
1,011 |
| IG Wilder |
Con |
958 |
| FG Tombolis |
Con |
883 |
| DA Bieda |
Lab |
379 |
| DFJ Dewhirst |
Lab |
298 |
| MG Beattie |
Lib Dem |
275 |
| TJL Smith |
GP |
271 |
| IS Steers |
Lib Dem |
263 |
| A Or-Bach |
Lab |
261 |
| MDH Blackburn |
Lib Dem |
219 |
| CR Merton |
UKIP |
67 |
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