An interview with Ken Churchill...

   

Ken Churchill and his wife Helen came to live in Little Paxton nearly twenty years ago. Ken says.

     "I'm proud that four generations of my family have lived in St Neots and Little Paxton. My parents first settled here and ran a successful High Street butchers. Although I did not grow up here, I have always liked the town, so when Helen and I were looking to relocate, this was the ideal area."

Ken entered local politics by joining the Conservative Party and being elected to the District Council in 2005.

     "I got into politics because I was concerned about changes which were being proposed to the waste collection system we had in place at the time. I realised that because I and many other residents were unhappy, someone had to be prepared to stand up and do something about it, so I did".

Ken has stood as both a District councillor for Little Paxton and County Councillor for Little Paxton & St Neots North since 2007. 

"Every election I have stood in, be it District or County, I have really appreciated every vote cast for me. People know that I am forthright, direct and honest. I do my best for them, I take their concerns seriously and I make time to listen to them". 

Ken firmly believes that Little Paxton and St Neots North are two separate and distinct communities and that both should be represented by Councillors who reside in each area.

Never off duty... Ken & Fin meeting a reserve visitor.

"I am concerned that it will not work very well for Little Paxton residents if their Councillors do not live among them. Even if I'm just out walking my dog, people know they can stop me anytime and talk to me about the issues which concern them. They know I'm more than happy to listen. 

If I chose to represent a different area of St Neots or another village in the area, people would not find me as easily accessible. Of course you don't just work for your village when you're a councillor you work for the whole of the division you represent. I want to continue to work for the village and the people of St Neots, as I have throughout the past eight years."

On patrol...

Recently, one resident came up to Ken to thank him personally for standing up for the village again. He said. 

"The man's worked for Little Paxton for 8 years, he's done a lot of good things for us. He's always there when we have a problem, right at the end of my street. I don't want to be represented by someone from the far side of St Neots who we will only get to see every four years because there's an election. I want someone here, who genuinely cares about this village."

Village residents raise matters with Ken by contacting him directly by phone or email, but they frequently turn up on his doorstep. However they come problems are dealt with in the order they arrive and feed back, irrespective of the outcome is provided to the resident concerned.

One resident remarked: "The thing I like abut Ken is that he is not self serving. You rarely see him in the local paper but you know he is doing the work necessary to get things done."

All images and text © cg-photography
Promoted by Carol Gamby on behalf of Ken Churchill and Bob Farrer all of 83 Huntingdon Street, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 1DU