Looking for my latest blog - it's here
I was elected in May 2021, for a four year term to Melksham Town Council.
I stuck, after the election, to what I said before - Environment ... Equality ... Openness
Those philiosphises still apply, even after the end of my term 30th April 2025.
Graham Ellis - Public transport and environmental advocate - Melksham
I served on the Melksham Town (Parish) Council from 2021 to 2025. A big "thank you" to everyone who supported and helped me in that role. It has not been an easy time for the town council - some issues we inherited, other issues come with the nature of the role and how it is defined, and I have to say that there were issued we inflicted on our serves as well. Never the less, your council looks very different now and some substantive changes, many already proven to be positive, have come about.
My old "Councillor" home page can be found at https://grahamellis.uk/councillor.html and I am leaving the other pages, links and blog articles there as an archive. Many of these things don't go away and manu of the lessons on neighbourhood planning, travel and transport remain current no matter who sits in the council chamber,
I am also leaving - on the base of this page - my backgrouns and CV. It doesn't change just because I am now concentrating on public and sustainable transport issues, rather that trying to deal with so many general issues that others know far more about that I do.
* Since my wife and I moved to the area in 1999, we have been actively involved with community and projects of immediate and ongoing benefit to Melksham. I am best known for my work on public transport, helping to regain a more appropriate train service and ensure buses were not slashed back. This work has brought me national awards, but the real reward is seeing people benefitting from the improved service - with 25 times the number of journeys being made
* I was elected President of the Chamber of Commerce (usually a one year term) and held the post for seven years.
* I represented you for the full term of four years; I shared with a number of former colleagues the concerns as to the effectiveness of the role and the pressurs, but stuck with my 4 year promise. I learned a lot and can now be far more effective in other roles that don't include a council seat at the personal drain that brought. I also doubt I would have the stamina taking on a further full four years at my age.
* I had never stood for election to any town, parish or county election before, nor served on any through co-option. I had, though, attended many meetings and worked well with councillors of all political colours, partnering, promoting and achieving causes for the common good.
* Running a council is running a business - looking after staff, volunteers and customers. And I have run a customer facing business in Melksham with an incredibly low staff turnover, which rose to be no.1 out of 16 in customer reviews in Melksham.
* During the campaign, I delivered information door to door, happily talking with people I met when out and about, wrote to the local newspaper, make my case online. I was available on the phone or in person if people want to meet ("my garden or yours?", during covid). I was Delighted to hear from people and become better informed. But I did not knock, uninvited, on doors. The same avaialbility applied, after the election and still applies on travel, transport and other local knowledge issues. I am very much available.
* I openly publish my views, and my philosophy. Rarely a turncoat, I can be swayed by good logic, changing times and circumstances, and the common good. Unlikely to be change my views.