Billy Sheerin
Labour Party
Castleton Ward
I was born in the village and lived here most of my life; educated at St Gabriels and Rochdale Technical College, served my apprenticeship in mechanical engineering on Queensway. Married Lynn and happily brought our family up on Hillcrest Road and Leander Drive. Castleton has always been my home. I am proud to be a Castletonian and have always been involved in trying to make it a better place to live for everyone young and old alike.
Prior to becoming a councillor for Castleton my record on community involvement in the village over the years relates to many varied activities; serving in the 1990s as the chairman of the EC residents association campaigning to stop building on Cowm Top which led to a High Court hearing. Holding the position as a Foundation Governor at St Gabriels RC Primary school for many years. Managing a village under 17 football team in the 1970s. Member of the St Gabriels PTA in the 1980s and started up the annual children’s pantomime and the Amateur Music and Drama Society. In 2010 brought Castleton into the multi-award winning Rochdale in Bloom group involving the school children of our four primary schools and Matthew Moss High School. Instigating the war memorial stone on the village green with help from the In Bloom group. An active member of the Village Forum since it began. Campaigned to save the Old Carnegie Library and Castleton Swimming Pool. I became your local Labour Party councillor in 2012.
It has been a privilege and a pleasure to represent the local residents of Castleton for the last ten years. One of the most satisfying aspects of the job as your local councillor is to listen to your views and concerns and then take action.
This election year I will be joined by my Labour Party colleagues, Cllr Aasim Rashid and a bright new young candidate Aisling Gallagher in what has come to be known as the "All out Elections 2022".
This means this year you can vote for all three Labour candidates, standing in Castleton, on a single ballot paper.
A list of issues on what we consider must be focused on:
- Building of new homes on Brownfield sites – not on our Greenbelt
- Ensuring the infrastructure is in place to support the increase of households in the village
- Supporting and delivering the new Castleton Master Plan centred around the station and canal
- Working to increase the police presence in the village and reinstating PACT meetings
- Faster repairs of potholes, now can be ensured with the service brought back “in house”
- Introducing measures to help road safety on our main roads reducing speeding and HGVs
- Introducing a twice a year per household bulk collection of domestic items to cut fly tipping
- Giving support to organised sports and pastimes
- Holding annual community events on the village green
- Working to get our trains back to two per hour
- Finding an acceptable ‘cost free’ method for everyone if the CAZ has to go ahead
We have a lot to do but we are determined to do it so please give us your support by voting for your three Labour candidates.
I also want to take this opportunity to record my grateful thanks to Councillor Jean Hornby who will be standing down after 12 years of dedicated service to the ward. Jean was my mentor when I became a Councillor. She was inspirational, especially regarding adult and social care issues. Her kind and gentle manner when helping residents with their problems and issues is special. I and all of the Labour Group wish her all the very best in her retirement and may God bless her for all her good works for the people of Castleton.
