TWO candidates are battling it out for a seat on Steyning Parish Council.
The by-election, which was requested by a group of residents, takes place next Thursday.
Both candidates are standing as independents. They are Gill Muncey, of Perrots Lane, Steyning, and Pam Perceval-Maxwell, of Shooting Field, Steyning.
Gill said: “I moved to Steyning in 1990 with my husband and two children and I understand local concerns and issues.
“I was a local GP practice manager for over a decade but have recently retrained as a family mediator and so now have more time for community issues.
“I am a member of Steyning Film Society and Steyning History Society, a supporter of Steyning 10:10 campaign and have been a volunteer cleaner at St Andrew’s Church for 20 years.
“I am a member of the Friends of Memorial Playing Field group but do not want to be a one-issue councillor. I am non-political.”
She said she would work to ensure parish spending plans were efficient and effective, and ensure council business was conducted transparently and democratically.
She supports the planning application to site a skate park in the car park at Steyning Leisure Centre and wants to preserve the Memorial Playing Field as a rural open space for all sectors of the community.
Pam said she had no agenda other than to serve the residents of Steyning.
“I have been going to the parish council meetings for some time now as a member of the public and feel that I can contribute to our town, through my experience and local knowledge.
“I have always enjoyed an active community life wherever I have lived and Steyning has proved no exception.
“I have joined the congregation at St Andrew and St Cuthman Church and through my church connection, I am now a governor at Steyning CE Primary school, where I serve as vice-chairman of governors and chairman of the curriculum committee.”
Pam also serves as publicity officer to both the Steyning and District branch of the Royal British Legion and the Women’s Section of the organisation.
She attends the local Neighbourhood Panel and is a member of Neighbourhood Watch.
“If elected to the parish council, I would want to serve the whole community, both young and old,” she added.