Eleanor Stanier elected

10.13.30am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 13th Aug 2003

Councillor Eleanor Stanier

Cllr Serge Lourie, Leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition on Richmond Council has welcomed the election of Eleanor Stanier to the Council.

She has lived in Mortlake and Sheen since her marriage 36 years ago and knows the area well. She and her husband Tom and three sons, now grown up, have all been involved in local activities.

She served on Richmond Council as the Liberal Democrat councillor for Mortlake ward from 1997 to 2002 and the Mayor of the Borough in 2001/2002.

She served on the education committee and leisure. She was a council representative on the board of Richmond Housing Partnership when the stock was transferred from the Council.

She was Lead Member for Life Long Learning from 1999 to 2001. She helped organise the millennium festivities in Mortlake. Currently she is a governor of East Sheen Primary School, a trustee of Richmond Museum, and acting chair of the Thames Concert Society. She sings in the choir of St. Michael's church in Elm Bank Gardens.

She is a history graduate with a professional background in teaching, careers guidance and marketing. Her interests are her family, - she now has three grandchildren, classical music and local history.

Speaking after the count, Serge Lourie said:

"I am delighted that Eleanor Stanier has been re-elected. She was an excellent councillor and will represent the people of Mortlake and Barnes Common excellently. Two key issues helped her to win."

There is no doubt that the vigorous by-election campaign prevented the closure of the Barnes Green Day Centre. The Tories intended to close it and had admitted in a public document that a day centre would close."

"Because of their obsession with secrecy, they were caught out and at the July Council meeting their answer to the question from Cllr Jerry Elloy was ambiguous and did not say that there were no plans to close the day centre. In any event a council document made it clear that a day centre would be closed and Eleanor has now saved it."

"As far as the proposals for Barnes Common is concerned, the position is also clear. When the Liberal Democrats ran the Council, Barnes Goods Yard was designated as metropolitan open land and would have been returned to Common use whilst the Tories changed the Unitary Development Plan to permit enabling development. We will be doing everything we can to ensure that this land is returned to the Common. "

For further information, contact Serge Lourie on 020 8876 7368 (home); 07958 589589 (mobile); 020 7828 6288 (office)