Parkstone councillor Ann Stribley calls time on 46 years in role

Conservative Parkstone member Ann Stribley said it had been a “huge privilege” to represent the community for such a prolonged period.

Cllr Stribley was a long-term chairman of Borough of Poole’s planning committee and also took up roles in the Local Government Association and its European equivalent.

Reflecting on her time as an elected representative, she told the Daily Echo: “It is very, very different.

“When I started Poole was just a borough district council before it became a unitary authority which changed things quite considerably and then we combined with the two other authorities in Bournemouth and Christchurch.

“We are where we are with the new council and it has got to be made to work.”

Cllr Stribley added: “I have done so much over the years. It has been a huge privilege and a pleasure and quite a thrill.

“I never really planned to be a councillor, I got there almost by mistake and I have been there ever since.”

Cllr Ann Stribley was honoured with an MBE in 2012 (Image: BCP Council)

The former magistrate said when she was first elected she attended meetings and thought “who am I to be making decisions on behalf of the whole town” but she soon got to grips with the responsibility.

Cllr Stribley received an MBE for services to Poole in the 2012 Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Speaking at the final BCP Council full council meetings before May’s elections, she said: “It has been an immense privilege for me to have been I believe the longest serving Poole councillor and I will regret not standing again I guess on many occasions but I have to say the atmosphere in this authority hasn’t been good.

“I hope that our successors learn to respect if not agree with each other and be considerate, and have at the heart of everything they do the communities that they serve and I wish our future successors the very best of luck.”

Poole MP Sir Robert Syms said Cllr Stribley was on his selection committee when he came to the area in the 1990s.

“She has done tremendous work over the years for Parkstone and it will seem quite strange that she is not on the council," Sir Robert said.

Poole MP Sir Robert Syms

“I was pleased she got recognised on the honours list. Poole is lucky because we get people from all political parties who are community minded and work hard for residents – Ann was the epitome of that.”