I am Ian Buckley and I am currently a Penarth Town councillor for Cornerswell ward in Penarth. I was elected in 2017, and have held several posts within the council, including Chair of Events and Open Spaces, and a term of office as the Town Mayor. In all my rolls during my time on the council I have attempted to bring common sense and practicality, as well as empathy, in an attempt to help where possible, and explain and console where not.

I am a retired firefighter, having served most of my career within the Cardiff stations, although I have worked all over the South Wales Fire Service Area. I started my career as a firefighter in Ely and finished as Station Commander at Ely, so it felt like my career had gone full circle. I was the officer’s rep for the Fire Brigades Union and that was how my interest in fair play, openness and doing the right thing led to me becoming a town councillor. I would love the opportunity to use those same values in helping to make The Vale of Glamorgan the best place to live and visit in Wales.

I am a Penarth boy, born and bred. I went to primary school in Penarth, the same as my children and grandkids. I went to secondary school in Barry, as well as attending Rumney Tech, Barry Tech and Ponty Uni in my latter years. I played my youth rugby at Penarth RFC, my senior rugby at the Old Pens although I did gain representative honours playing for the Welsh Fire Service. I boxed for Penarth ABC from the age of 10, and still consider boxing to be my first love.

My family has lived in Penarth for 6 generations. I am married, have 3 children and 4 grandchildren and my aim is to instill the love and pride that I hold in this beautiful county of ours into them. I aim to make their futures better by improving everyone in the Vale’s future. As a town councillor I have attempted bring a human touch into all my dealings with the public, hopefully letting people know that I am approachable as well as conscientious.

As part of my commitment to our future generations health and the legacy we leave them I hope to be able to support Project Zero, the Labour-led Vale of Glamorgan’s response to the climate emergency, aiming to hit net zero carbon omissions by the year 2030. I also love the fact that our school children will see recycling and energy efficiency as the norm and not something they have to remember to do. This in itself will pay it’s way forward to the next generations.

I would love to see our beautiful open spaces remain in the public domain, giving both residents and visitors to the vale the chance to enjoy them as I have.