Peasedown St John’s Nathan Hartley has this morning announced that he won’t be standing for a third term as a local councillor for the village.
First elected to represent Peasedown on Bath and North East Somerset Council in 2007, Nathan has dedicated a lot of his time and been a keen campaigner for his community ever since.
Hartley is the original creator of Party in the Park, has been instrumental in helping to bring an extra £200,000 to the community, and over the last ten years has completed more than 3,000 individual pieces of casework for residents.
However, now the 30-year old says it’s time to move on.
Hartley said: “I’ve had the privilege of serving as a local councillor for almost 10 years. If you had told me all those years ago that I’d still be here now doing what I do, I wouldn’t have believed it.
“Back in 2005, our village was a different place and so many of the projects and initiatives we enjoy today didn’t exist.
“It’s not been easy, and challenging at times, but I can look back quite happily over the last decade and feel a great sense of pride in what I have achieved.
“I was 22 when I first got elected, and I’m 30 now. There are so many things I want to do with my life. If I don’t do them now I never will.”
Nathan, a graduate in Religious Studies at Bath Spa University, has been heavily influenced by political and social reformers since his teenage years.
Nathan has no firm plan for the future, but it’s likely to include travelling, PhD study, and possibly even a year living in the Indian sub-continent.
In a statement on his farewell, Nathan continued: “Over the last two weeks, and during this election campaign, I’ve come to the very strong realisation that it’s now time for me to move on.
“I’ve contributed all that I can to our great community and now want to hand on to someone else who has the same level of commitment and passion for Peasedown as I do. A new person to take our village forward.
“I believe Karen Walker is that person. For the last seven years she has been behind some of Peasedown St John’s biggest campaigns and initiatives.
“Never afraid to say ‘no’ to a challenge, she has helped raise almost £70,000 for good causes in the community and has been extremely proud to call Peasedown ‘home’ for more than 40 years.
“She has the experience, knowledge and enthusiasm to take over where I’ve left off. No stranger to hard work, she is one of the founders of Peasedown’s Party in the Park, and the creator of the Fund for Peasedown – set up to help those suffering from terminal illnesses.”
“Nathan has given 110% to the role”, said Karen Walker. “I’ve worked with him in the public arena over the last seven years, and have seen the positive impact he has made to so many people’s lives.
“He knows our community better than anyone else, and has always been able to strike a balance between addressing each person’s individual needs, and moving the village forward as a whole.
“If it’s the will of the people, I’d be honoured to carry on Nathan’s work over the next four years.”
