Councillor Neil Butters 
Neil Butters is your new representative - elected May 2007 - on Bath & North East Somerset Council (B&NES) - website http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/ . B&NES is a unitary authority, that is, it covers the functions of both a district and a county council, including planning, transport, social services and education.
Neil represents Bathavon South ward, which includes the villages of Freshford, Monkton Combe, Midford, South Stoke, Hinton Charterhouse, Shoscombe and Wellow. He is a member of the Liberal Democrat Party. Although new as a councillor, he has lived in the area for three years and before that, served for nine years as a Borough councillor in the Swindon area - and 12 years as a parish councillor.
Also, he has worked in Bath in the past. He lives in the ward, in South Stoke. "It is good to see first-hand what goes on in your ward if you want to help your residents”, Neil says.
By profession, he is a career railway manager. He currently serves as Secretary to the (Great Britain-wide) Railway Heritage Committee, a statutory body sponsored by the Department of Transport. His particular interests are similar to those of his predecessor Gitte Dawson:· keeping our villages alive - maintaining post offices pubs and other important facilities
· fighting off inappropriate planning and licensing proposals that would harm the villages in Bathavon South
· getting traffic calming and speed limits to reduce through traffic in villages, promoting the shared space concept wherever possible
· safeguarding and promoting public transport - getting the Council to provide bus or fare car services where bus companies won't, and getting First Great Western to serve Freshford better
· promoting markets – eg farmers markets in our towns and working for a longer Bath Christmas Market as it has proven so popular with both residents and visitors
· pressing for sustainable decisions in whatever the Council does.
Neil is always keen to hear from residents - with problems he might help you solve, or just suggestions as to how things could be done better. He, with help from Gitte and others, publishes a local newsletter to keep residents informed. If you would like to read the latest one, you can download it here. If you can help deliver the newsletter Neil would love to hear from you.
You may also wish to have a look at Neil’s election flyer to find out a little more about him.
You can contact Neil on –
Tel: 01225 832256
E-mail: CllrNeilButters@aol.com
His postal address is –
Hillside Cottage
Southstoke Lane
South Stoke
Bath BA2 7DN
Liberal Democrat newsletters for Bathavon South ward: