Bishop's Stortford Town Council election: The six candidates for the two seats in All Saints ward
All Saints ward has six candidates – two Conservatives, two Liberal Democrats and two Labour – contesting two seats.
Martin Adams (Lib Dem) moved to Bishop’s Stortford in 1995 from Ware. He has lived in the ward for 23 years, commuting into London for work until 2018. In recent years he has set up a small online business.
Other than national politics, his interests focus on the ever-expanding developments the town is expected to absorb and the lack of safe and comprehensive paths and cycle routes that should have enabled the town’s population to move around without getting in a car.
He said: “I believe the town’s development must not be just about adding more houses, but by making the town a better place to live for all."
Sophia Adams Bhatti (Lab) has lived in Stortford for over 20 years. She works in London, focusing on sustainability, having had a career that spans the private and public sectors.
She has, over many years, volunteered in support of various organisations including Citizens Advice and is a non-executive board member of Amnesty International UK Section Board.
Sophia has two young children who attend a local primary school. She is passionate about developing the town sustainably and making basic things like roads work again.
Jane Band (Lab) was born in Bishop's Stortford and has lived and worked in the local area ever since.
She has worked extensively in education, health and social care, also working and volunteering for local charities. She has a special interest in issues relating to diversity and in particular disabilities. She currently works in a residential setting in Stortford supporting adults with learning disabilities.
Jane is a mother and grandmother and enjoys practising yoga and listening to live music locally.
Richard Bower (Lib Dem) has lived in Bishop's Stortford for over 30 years and in a number of areas in the town. He has owned a retail business in Stortford as well as being an engineer in the construction industry.
Although always interested in politics, he first took an active part in campaigning in 2016.
He is very concerned about the level to which the town is being spoiled by development. He said this has brought increased pollution and exacerbated the inadequate infrastructure and transport links of the town. “These must be greatly improved in order to support the vast increase in population,” he said.
Naomi Snowdon (Con), 38, has lived in Stortford for seven years with her husband David, a district and town councillor.
She works as an office manager in London and has extensive experience in supporting those in need of help from public services.
Naomi is a keen runner who started Couch to 5k in the first lockdown and will be running the Great North 10k in July.
She is passionate that Stortford should have strong sports and leisure facilities that reflect a diverse range of activities and ability levels.
Alastair Ward-Booth (Con), 26, is a lifelong Stortford resident, having attended Hockerill Anglo-European College and Bishop's Stortford College. He is a solicitor and notary with a London law firm.
He previously served on the town council. He is a current East Herts district councillor and, since 2021, the Herts county councillor for Bishop’s Stortford West.
Alastair is a trustee of the Crouchfield Trust, which has recently supported Grove Cottage in Stortford. He recently visited Ukraine with Operation SafeDrop, delivering aid to Chernihiv in the north of the country.
Outside of local politics, Alastair is a keen squash player.