With a host of councillors, MPs and Euro MPs in the area it can all get a bit confusing when you’re trying to find out who represents you and who is the best person to contact when you need help, advice or an issue taking up on your behalf.
With any local issues or complaints about services that Sunderland City Council is responsible for (e.g. housing, recycling, litter and parks) the best person to contact is your local councillor – If you wanted to complain about the lack of gritting on your roads for example, your councillors are the people to contact.
The city of Sunderland has 75 councillors. The city is divided into 25 electoral areas called ‘wards’. The people in each ward are represented by three city councillors, each elected for a four-year term.
There are several wards in the SR2 area, each having three councillors who represent you. But it is easier said than done to find out which ward you live in and who your councillors are.
If you don’t know which ward you live in or the name of your councillor you can find their contact details on Sunderland Council’s website here simply by entering your postcode.
You can contact your local councillor by phone or in writing. Many councillors also hold weekly or monthly ‘surgeries’ where you can go and discuss and problems or issues you are facing.
Here are the details for councillors in the SR2 area as well as when and where they hold their advice surgeries:
St Michael’s Ward covers Ashbrooke, Hill View and parts of Grangetown, Thornhill, Barnes and the Southern part of the City Centre):
• Councillor Peter Wood (Conservative)
• Councillor Paul Maddison (Conservative)
• Councillor Margaret Forbes (Conservative)
Hendon Ward (Covers Hendon, the East End, part of Grangetown and the Eastern side of the City Centre):
• Councillor Thomas Martin (Labour) – Holds a surgery every second Monday of the month (except during August) from 5pm – 5.45pm at Hendon Library
• Councillor Michael Mordey (Labour) -Holds a surgery every first Wednesday of the month (except August) from 3pm – 4pm in the Main Reception, Civic Centre, Sunderland
• Councillor Mary Smith (Labour)
Ryhope Ward (covers Ryhope, Leechmere and Southern parts of Grangetown):
• Councillor David Ross Wares (Labour) – Holds a surgery every 1st Wednesday of the month (except August) from 6pm – 7pm at Ryhope Library
• Councillor Ellen Ball (Labour) – Holds a surgery every 3rd Wednesday of the month (except August) from 4pm – 5pm at Ryhope Library
• Councillor Christopher Fairs (Conservative)
Millfield Ward (Primarily covers Millfield and Pallion, but also covers part of Ashbrooke and Thornhill in SR2):
• Councillor Paul Dixon (Liberal Democrat) – Holds a surgery every first Friday of the month from 10am – 11am at the Community Shop, St Luke’s Terrace, Pallion
• Councillor Kevin O’Connor (Labour) – Holds a surgery every first Tuesday of the month from 10am – 11am at the Lansdown Pub, Millfield
• Councillor Peter Maddison (Independent)
Paul Edgeworth (@PaulEdgeworth) is a Liberal Democrat campaigner for St Michael’s ward, Sunderland.
Image: Paul Boxley
