The Liberal Democrat Group on Warrington Borough Council
Appleton
Brian Axcell
24 Kingsley Drive, Appleton
01925 267540
CllrBrian.Axcell@warrington.gov.uk
An Oxford graduate, Brian is a chartered engineer and a retired University lecturer. He is married to Irina and has lived in Appleton for 37 years. He has been a borough councillor for the area for 22 years and a parish councillor for a year longer. He was Mayor of Warrington from 2009 to 2010.
Brian is very interested in music and takes a great interest in transport issues. Brian says: It was a great honour to be Mayor but it is an even greater pleasure to help residents get solutions to long-standing problems. I really hope we can find a solution to the problems caused for us by our swing bridges.
Sharon Harris
Hereford House, Porch House Farm, Runcorn Road, Higher Walton
01925 470498
CllrSharon.Harris@warrington.gov.uk
Sharon has lived in Warrington since 1993 and is married to Robert. They have 3 grownup children and 3 grandchildren . She worked in Warrington as a primary school teacher for 14 years and has only just recently retired from the profession.
She has been a Parish Councillor in Appleton for 8 years and prior to that was a Walton Parish Councillor for 2 years. She is the Appleton Parish Council representative on the Board of Directors for the Broomfields Youth Project and volunteers to help out regularly on Friday evenings serving numerous cups of hot chocolate to some delightful young people. She is also a Friend of Walton Estate.
Since retiring, Sharon has begun a small dog walking business as she has two dogs of her own. She enjoys Nordic Walking and keeping fit. She is also actively involved in her local church.
Judith Wheeler
6 Southway Avenue, Appleton
07890 560890
CllrJudith.Wheeler@warrington.gov.uk
Judith was born and grew up in Appleton, attending local schools. After university, she trained as a librarian and worked for the British Council for many years. Judith was a Councillor for Whittle Hall from 2004-2011 and enjoyed it so much she stood for Appleton in 2014, successfully taking over from fellow LibDem Judith Walker.
In 2009, Judith qualified as a mental health nurse and now works with dementia sufferers. In her spare time, Judith enjoys cycling, running, gardening, baking and learning the trumpet. Her pet hates as a councillor are graffiti, flyposting, bad parking and lack of consideration for cyclists!
Grappenhall
Ryan Bate
28 Marlfield Road, Grappenhall
01925 267618
Born in Warrington, Ryan has lived in Grappenhall most of his life, attending Bradshaw Community Primary and Lymm High School. After studying at Lancaster University and spending two years working in the oil industry, Ryan returned to Warrington in 2010 to train as a teacher. He has taught geography in local secondary schools since then.
Having been motivated to join the Lib Dems at the age of sixteen by the work of local campaigners such as Ted Lafferty and Barbara Mawer, Ryan was elected to Grappenhall & Thelwall Parish Council in 2012. Since then he has been involved in the Parish Council's efforts to conserve Church Lane providing a heritage briefing to planners from Warrington BC. He has also worked with the GYCA to ensure the continued success of Grappenhall Community Centre. Ryan has also led the organising for the successful Open Grappenhall & Thelwall weekend, which was first held in May 2015, bringing together a range of local organisations to put on activities for the villages.
Mike Biggin
46 Georges Crescent, Grappenhall
01925 213612
CllrMike.Biggin@warrington.gov.uk
Lymm North & Thelwall
Bob Barr OBE
Pear Trees, 2A Dane Bank Road, Lymm
01925 750910
Bob is Leader of the Liberal Democrat group and spokesman on Planning, Regeneration and Housing. He is a retired University Lecturer, Visiting Professor at the University of Liverpool and still chairs the company spun out of his university laboratory. He is an urban and social geographer, which has led to his interest in the planning and regeneration job he now holds, he is also an IT specialist and was awarded his OBE in 2008 "for services to geography".
Bob is particularly interested in housing and is particularly proud of the successful stock transfer which has passed control of all the Council's rented properties to the newly established Golden Gates Housing Trust.
Bob is married to Caroline and they have two daughters. Bob is a keen social networker, he has a blog at www.cllrbobbarr.net and appears on Twitter as @CllrBobBarr.
Wendy Johnson
37 Clearwater Quays, Latchford
01925 637398
CllrWendy.Johnson@warrington.gov.uk
Wendy grew up in Thelwall and went to school in Thelwall and Lymm. In the past she worked as a care home manager in Lymm. She has served on Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council for many years and has represented Grappenhall and Thelwall on Warrington Borough Council since 1999. She joined the Liberal Democrats because the Lib Dem councillors at that time, Barbara Mawer and Ted Lafferty had similar views to Wendy about serving the community. For four years when the Liberal Democrats led Warrington Council, Wendy was chairman of the Health Scrutiny Committee. She is strongly in favour of bringing health and social care together to improve lives for people.
Ian Marks MBE
80A Whitbarrow Road, Lymm
01925 753051
CllrIan.Marks@warrington.gov.uk
Lymm South
Anna Fradgley
34 Cyril Bell Close, Lymm
01925 753631
CllrAnna.Fradgley@warrington.gov.uk
A Lymm Parish Councillor since 2016, she is Chairman this year. She was elected to the Borough Council at a by-election in April 2018.
She has been a Parent Governor at Ravenbank School and served on the Lymm Festival Committee. Anna spent time as a Slimming World Consultant, but now runs her own business and writes cookery books under the name 'Anna Vero'. She enjoys Aquafit and socialising in Lymm restaurants and wine bars!
Stockton Heath
Peter Walker
75 Grappenhall Road, Stockton Heath
01925 265237
Peter has lived in Stockton Heath since 1968 and is married to Judith. They have four children and six grandchildren. He worked as an executive for a chemical and energy company. He was a Cheshire County Councillor from 1989 to 1998 and was the first Lib Dem to chair that Council.
He was elected to Warrington Council when it became a Unitary Authority and was in charge of Finance and Resources when the Lib Dems took over the leadership of the Council in 2006. He also sits on both Appleton and Stockton Heath Parish Councils.
Peter was Deputy Chair of the Police Authority for six years and was made a Deputy Lieutenant of Cheshire in 2006. He sits on the South Warrington Neighbourhood Board and chairs the board of governors at a local secondary school. He is a trustee of three national and local charities. When time allows, his interests include photography, cars, driving and fixing things!
Graham Welborn
20 Cross Lane, Grappenhall
07970 458474
CllrGraham.Welborn@warrington.gov.uk
Graham is an experienced Lib Dem councillor having represented the people of Warrington for many years. During that time he was on the Council's Executive Board and was also Mayor of Warrington. Graham and his wife Elaine have 2 children and 4 grandchildren. He has been a member Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council.
Graham worked as a Police Officer and then for 30 years teaching children with special needs. He is now Chairman of Warrington YMCA and has done other charity work.