Stone Independents

Ian Fordham is a serving Town and Borough Councillor and long term resident of Stonefield. He is active in the local community as an officer of his local residents association and chair of a local charity. He also chairs the Stone Police Liaison Group that was recently established to improve communications between residents and the Police.
Ian has acted as Deputy Mayor and chair of council committees and played a leading role in helping formulate the Stone Town Neighbourhood Plan guiding future development and protecting our green spaces. He is a supporter of the Crown Wharf development including theatre, cinema and heritage centre and of the improved leisure and play facilities on Westbridge Park. He has encouraged more effective liaison between local businesses and the Town Council.
“I enjoy Stone for its sense of community, parks, river, canal and built heritage. Stone Independents have worked hard to improve facilities in the town and put the interests of residents first. With your support, we can build further on what has already being achieved.”

Tom Kelt moved to Stone in 1975 and worked in the potteries and the NHS until retirement. He now divides his time between family, allotment and choir and ukulele band. He was elected to the council in 2019 and has been chair of planning and has a particular interest in the environment and public transport.

"I love the mixture of town and countryside that Stone offers and its accessibility. I feel passionately that Stone residents deserve a great place to live, work, shop and enjoy themselves within their own community. I believe that local politicians should listen to what people say and should work to deliver what the local community needs rather than slavishly following national party lines."

Rob Kenney was born in Stone and has lived in Stonefield for the last 34 years and has served as a Town Councillor for over 14 years. He spent most of his life working in the construction industry overseeing large projects such as hospitals and prisons. He is a company director and helps his wife run a successful bakery in the Town. Rob helped fight off unwanted planning applications for the Crown Wharf in favour of a plan to benefit the Town and its residents. With investment from Joules Brewery this has now become reality. He has an active role in the Crown Wharf project. He is Chair of Crown Wharf Theatre Trustees, member of the new Heritage Centre committee, a member of the Stone Police Liaison Group. Rob is part Neighbourhood Plan Committee to guide future development in the town and protect green spaces. He has been involved in arranging free family events which boost the local economy by encouraging visitors to the town’s unique independent shops and eateries.
“I believe that hard work and effective promotion will benefit Stone and its residents.”

Philip Leason has lived in Stone all his life and feels that he knows the town and the concerns of residents. He is an active member of several local organisations most of which are community or youth related. He has previously represented the ward on both the Town and Borough Councils, supporting residents in their objections to housing developments, building on open spaces and ‘garden grabbing’. He is particularly concerned that developments have been allowed without consideration of the effect on infrastructure and traffic congestion. Having an interest in local history, Philip welcomes the new heritage centre and the Joules development and theatre on Crown Wharf and feels that we can build on this by promoting the town more to increase footfall in the High St and support the traders.
“Being Independent I am not controlled by political doctrine or policy. I look forward to representing the people of the ward.”