Images from http://www.newcastlelabour.org.uk/north_jesmond and https://newcastle-libdems.org.uk/en/page/north-jesmond-ward

Two of North Jesmond’s three councillors will not be standing for re-election in the May 2018 local council elections, JesmondLocal has learned.

Labour councillor Dan Perry and Liberal Democrat councillor Catherine Walker will both not be standing for re-election at this year’s local elections in May but Labour’s Stella Postlethwaite will.

Perry, who was elected in the 2015 election, stated that a combination of work and family commitments have influenced his decision.

“It was a busy year for me last year, ran for parliament, got married; my wife and I are looking to the future now and we want to have a family,” Perry told JesmondLocal.

“To add something else huge into the mix with trying to pursue a career and represent your community, I knew that would be way too much in terms of the pressure it puts on you in terms of time.”

The 34-year-old, who works as a senior engineer for an energy consultancy firm, hopes to stay involved in the North Jesmond community where he lives, including continuing to chair the Keep Jesmond Clean (KJC) residents’ group.

Perry said the group has been going “from strength to strength” with its regular litter picks.

“I think a lot of people are feeling very positive that there is a project where students and long-term residents can volunteer side by side,” he said. “I think that’s really good for community relations.”

While Perry will not be standing for re-election, he is still passionate about improving North Jesmond in his remaining months as a councillor.

“I think there is a strong sense in Jesmond that people don’t want any more bars, they don’t want any more drinking and that’s something I’ve understood from an early stage,” he said. “That’s something I agree with as a resident and something I’ve tried to uphold as best I can.”

Perry did however acknowledge the challenge of being a councillor while maintaining a full-time job, questioning whether it was possible to serve the community while working for a living.

“Some people decide to do a four-day week – if they can afford it – to give them more time to be a councillor. I was always given the impression that you can be a councillor while working full time.

“The whole way through I’ve being trying to do the two things together in parallel but I think that’s potentially an issue if that’s not the case,” he told JesmondLocal. “[It] basically say[s] you can only have local representatives who can afford to work four days a week,” he explained.

Liberal Democrat Catherine Walker also confirmed to JesmondLocal she will not be standing after 10 years as a North Jesmond councillor. Walker has decided not to seek re-election for personal reasons.

Local council elections take place on May 3rd this year. Following a redrawing of local council ward boundaries, all three local seats will be up for election. JesmondLocal will be providing comprehensive coverage of the local elections in the run-up to May.