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Hello. I’m Rosemary Dartnall, Labour councillor for Column ward – Shrewsbury Town Council and for one of three seats on Shropshire Council representing the residents of Bayston Hill, Column and Sutton in the May 2021 local elections.

My working background includes 32 years in the private sector, as an employee and running my own business. After sixth form I worked in footwear retail – selling shoes, managing shops and then later became a buyer, then buying director. My own business followed and was about product design, mainly working in Italy, supplying retailers throughout the UK. In the late 1990s the sudden death of my partner led me to rethink life and begin to think about how to change my career. I had the wonderful opportunity to return to education, and studied to become a geologist then shared time between study, research and teaching.

Politics has been a lifelong passion for me but this is my first attempt at becoming a Councillor. If successful, I hope my life experience will enable me to be a good representative.

My priorities are education and the environment. For me, these two things are linked – I feel they enable each of us to make the most of what we have in life. A good formal education for our children and young adults is obviously essential and provides the best start in life. It is also true that by learning new skills, for example, by taking on hobbies, adults of all ages can find unexpected fulfilment. Our environment is precious beyond words: the many paths, parks and wild areas within and around our beautiful town are there for us all to enjoy, even more so during the Covid-19 pandemic. These things are close to my heart, but what I want to do most of all, if elected Councillor in May 2021, is to represent the views of Column residents. As your Councillor, your concerns will form my casework load and allow me to act on your behalf.