Dear Sir,

As you may know, I was not elected to the Aycliffe North & Middridge division of Durham County Council in the recent local elections. I am at ease with that result; you cannot believe in democracy yet complain when voters choose someone else.

HEARTBROKEN

Of course I am disappointed. I have often said that being chosen to represent a community as its Councillor is the greatest honour. I *loved* looking after my ward, and it was wonderful wandering past initiatives in which I had had a hand (I vlogged on some of these during the election campaign). Indeed, being the local County Councillor had become part of my identity – every day I signed dozens of letters: “John D Clare (Aycliffe North & Middridge)” – and it is still strange not waking up to a pile of tasks.

In particular, as I wrote in the Newton News in February, there were a number of unfinished issues I was keeping a watching brief on – including Forrest Park, the S&DR regeneration project (and the Locomotion pub), the Woodham Burn nature corridor, Cobblers Hall environmental play area, and the Kings Drive shrub beds.

Hopefully, someone else will now see these to completion.

And I am especially heartbroken not to be able to extend the County Council’s Climate Emergency into County Durham as planned. Having said that, it had been obvious for months that I was likely to lose my seat on the County Council and – as I have written elsewhere in the Newton News – we had been embedding climate action into the Council’s everyday structures and systems … so that work will continue automatically as long as the new administration does not actively renege on its climate declaration.

A SENSE OF RELIEF

Having acknowledged the immensity of the loss, however, it is also true that being a County Councillor is a very onerous and stressful job if you do it properly.

Aycliffe North & Middridge is one of the largest wards in the county, and the hundreds of service requests I am factually proven to have submitted were only the tip of a 24/365 iceberg of problems and complaints, meetings, local groups, site visits, walkabouts and drive-arounds, keeping people informed etc. … along with residents’ personal troubles – many of which were empathetically draining. Desperation does not keep office hours – I fielded complaints even on Christmas Day, and the most notable request was at 3.45am (by chance I was awake to respond). Last week I took my first holiday in eight years without my Council phone, computer and a pile of Council work!

Added to this, this work was done under a daily barrage of abuse. Hundreds of messages which were simply lists of foul words. One ‘contract’ publicly issued on Labour Councillors’ lives. A number of ‘we know where you live’ messages. Lots of what is called ‘gas lighting’ – posts designed to undermine my self-esteem and mental health. Three people who thought it acceptable to follow me down the street screaming at me. Five cases where I had to seek police advice concerning harassment. One libel, so serious it required a solicitors’ letter. These are typical of the price a prominent local politician pays nowadays for trying to serve their community.

So – upset as I was to lose the election – I cannot say that I did not leave the count also with a sense of relief.

THE FUTURE

I am still, of course, a Town Councillor for Byerley Park, Horndale & Cobblers Hall Ward, and you know that I will do that job thoroughly.

However, I think the message of the election was clear, and I am pulling back from front-facing politics.

It only remains for me to thank residents sincerely for allowing me to be their County Councillor. Not only has it been a massive honour, but also fulfilling and huge fun and a peerless opportunity to do good in my local community, for which I am immensely grateful!

John D Clare