Town Councillors

Debbie Cartwright

West Hill Ward

Chair of the Pye Green Community Centre Committee

Principal Speaker for Homelessness and Vulnerable Adults

Email: debbie.cartwright@hednesford-tc.gov.uk

“I would like to see better facilities and support for local homeless and vulnerable adults and children”

Debbie is Secretary/Treasurer for Chase Lighthouse a community group here in Hednesford.  The group supports our local homeless and vulnerable adults (including families) in Hednesford and surrounding areas. They have a weekly meet in Cannock town centre providing a hot meal and other foods to take away for the Homeless and Vulnerable.  Each Sunday afternoon, with colleagues and volunteers at Chase Lighthouse, she organises a Community Table at Pye Green Community Centre where surplus food donated from local supermarkets is available for the community to access for free. They are currently planning a Community Fridge/cupboard at the Community Centre in partnership with Hednesford Town Council.

Kathryn Downs

Anglesey Ward

Deputy Mayor of Hednesford

Email: kathryn.downs@hednesford-tc.gov.uk

“Hednesford is a great town with lots of character and a wonderful sense of community, I want to nurture that”

Kathryn has lived in Hednesford for around twenty years and works full time in social housing. As a regular rail commuter, Kathryn knows all too well the issues of litter, anti social behaviour, parking and road safety around the station area and would like to see the Town Council take a more active role in addressing it.

Kathryn has previously volunteered as vice-chair of Heart of Hednesford, taking a lead role in organising the Christmas Light Switch-on and teaching her two children to look after their town with family litter picks.

Mandy Dunnett

West Hill Ward

Email: mandy.dunnett@hednesford-tc.gov.uk

“I would love to see Hednesford residents given a voice and more involvement in our lovely Town”

Having lived everywhere from Sussex to Lancashire, Mandy made her home in Hednesford in 2010 and never wants to be anywhere else.

As a Chase Community Independents’ Party member Mandy is actively involved in litter picks, speaking to other residents about what is important to them and trying to help with local issues.

Mandy also devotes her spare time to animal welfare providing home checks and transport for local animal rescue organisations

Garry Jones

West Hill Ward

Email: garry.jones@hednesford-tc.gov.uk

“Hednesford Town Council has a key role in bringing together public, voluntary and private sector bodies together for the benefit of our residents”

Garry is Chief Executive of local charity, Support Staffordshire, which supports and advocates for over 1,000 local charities and community groups.

Garry has a particular interest in ensuring the council’s resources are used effectively to benefit residents and to offer the greatest impact, and in ensuring strong governance that is fair and transparent to residents.

Garry lives in Hednesford with his partner and children, and when not working or on council business, enjoys our wonderful local green spaces at Hednesford Park and on the Hednesford Hills.

Sharon Jagger

Pye Green Ward

Chair of Finance, Personnel and Operations Committee

Email: sharon.jagger@hednesford-tc.gov.uk

“I want to be able to contribute to our community and think Hednesford is a fantastic place to live and work”

Sharon is a community volunteer, passionate about giving the community a voice, empowering people, and encouraging the community spirit which already exists in Hednesford.

Sharon is a keen motorcyclist and a member of The Royal British Legion Riders Branch (who raise funds for The Poppy Appeal all year round).  She holds various voluntary roles – she is Hednesford’s annual Poppy Appeal Organiser and is Treasurer of the Hednesford branch of The Royal British Legion – where she also holds the role of Branch Community Support Officer. Sharon helps to run the Fusion Credit Union session once a week in Hednesford library, and is also a member of Friends of Hednesford Community Volunteers.  Keen to promote equality and inclusivity, Sharon is a member of the committee of Signs for Worship Walsall and is also a committee member with Chase Pride.  Having recently completed a B.A. Hons Degree (with her head buried in books for three years!) Sharon is now enjoying having more free time to spend doing things in her local community once again.

Arthur Roden

West Hill Ward

Principal Speaker for Highways

Email: arthur.roden@hednesford-tc.gov.uk

“I have lived in Hednesford my whole life and raised my family here. It is a town I am extremely proud of”

Road safety is a priority for Arthur, so he takes every opportunity to ensure the safety of the public by volunteering as a member of Hednesford Community Speed Watch.

With minimum time allocated to the public to ask their questions by the previous Town Council Arthur ensured that he attended to highlight the issues and concerns of our community. A role he fulfils with equal fortitude now he is elected to serve.

Paul Woodhead

Anglesey Ward

Chair of Regeneration and Community Committee

Email: paul.woodhead@hednesford-tc.gov.uk

“Whilst being leader of the Chase Community Independent’s Party and a District Councillor I am inspired by these people taking national politics out of the Town Council”

Paul is involved in, well, pretty much everything going on in and around Hednesford.

Through his work with Hednesford in Partnership, Paul has played a vital role establishing the Artisan Markets, running the summer festival and bringing life saving defibrillators to the Town. He is a school governor, library volunteer and can be found most weekends organising litter picks and other community activities.

Darrell Mawle

Anglesey Ward

Email: darrell.mawle@hednesford-tc.gov.uk

“ I love living in Hednesford and value the beauty of the area, our strong travel connections and rich history and the people who work hard to keep it a vibrant, forward thinking and a good place to bring up a family.”

Darrell grew up in Chasetown & Lichfield but has now lived for over 20 years in Hednesford. His family run two businesses here and his children all currently attend Kingsmead School. His reasons for getting involved at council level stem from a need to help the community where he can and he has felt a need to “give something back” to those who need some help.

As an independent councillor he feels he is free to help everyone and can follow his own conscience on the important issues that arise from time to time.

He has served on the District council and Town council in the early 2000s and feels that that experience can make him an effective councillor and advocate for Hednesford residents.

He enjoys helping at the monthly Farmers Markets, Friends of Hednesford events and Town events wherever he is needed.

In his spare time he enjoys watching football, attending the cinema and doing Judo.

Laura Harrison

Pye Green Ward

Email: laura.harrison@hednesford-tc.gov.uk

“Living with and caring for adults and children with varying disabilities and “Special Needs” inspired me to become Councillor to raise awareness of, and improve facilities for, others in our Community with the same needs”.

Laura has lived in the Cannock area since 1989 and lived in Hednesford itself since 2006.  Since 2007 Laura and her husband have run a local tree surgery firm and, since the birth of their children in 2008, 2009 and 2018, has been a full-time Mum.  Their eldest child is diagnosed with Autism and ADHD, their middle child is also diagnosed as Autistic, as is her husband himself.  Her husband is also partially deaf.  Being aware of the challenges that living with and caring for people with additional needs, as well as the difficulties of getting conditions diagnosed, has made her very passionate about helping others going through the same things.

Laura, along with her Mom and her eldest daughter, is also part of The Friends of Hednesford Park.  Laura has also studied and qualified to Level 2 in British Sign Language.

Stuart Crabtree

Pye Green Ward 

Email: stuart.crabtree@hednesford-tc.gov.uk