THE chairman of Corbridge Parish Council, Coun. Maurice Hodgson, has revealed that he plans to stand as an independent candidate for the village in the May county council election.

The 72-year-old, who has called Corbridge home for the last 20 years, has already served the community for 12 years as a parish councillor – including two years as vice chairman and the last four years as chairman.

But after years of focusing on “getting things done” at grassroots level, Coun. Hodgson believes he can have greater a influence at county hall by representing the ward as county councillor.

“For too long we have witnessed Punch and Judy-style politics in Tynedale, with the Tories disagreeing with Labour and vice versa,” he explained.

“We need a more consensus approach to doing what is best for Corbridge, regardless of local party politics.”

Having started his career as a plater at the Consett Iron Company, he took on the role of work study manager and as such was responsible for implementing productivity improvements throughout the steelworks.

The closure of the site in the early 1980s saw unemployment in Consett soar to over 50 per cent.

Job clubs and adult training services provided by the Government-backed Manpower Services Commission were crucial.

As general manager of a new company called Anchor Training, Maurice helped to deliver the programme in Consett and later went on to help establish similar projects all over the UK, including London and Scotland.

The company went on to merge with Derwentside College and Maurice retired from his post as director of business development in 2004.

“It evolved full circle when a new further education college was built on the old steelworks site,” said Coun. Hodgson.

“It was a great spell in my life.”

Since settling in Corbridge with wife Joy in 1997, Coun. Hodgson has helped to establish the village’s healthy walks group and served as the chairman of Corbridge Youth Initiative, as well as being an active member of the Corbridge Flood Action Group.

Coun. Hodgson has also helped to establish regular parish liaison meetings with the county council’s local services team – an exercise which be believes would stand him in good stead for working with officers as a county councillor.

If elected, he would replace long-serving conservative county councillor for Corbridge, Jean Fearon, who has announced that she will be standing down in May.

Local businessman Nick Oliver has been selected by the Conservatives to contest the seat.

“My whole career has been about partnership, working and forging close links with people and organisations,” said Coun. Hodgson.

“I believe that’s key to the role of county councillor.”