Councillor Tony Downing represents Mosborough Ward

The retired bus driver, who has lived in the ward for 42 years, has been a Mosborough Councillor since 2011 and was Lord Mayor of Sheffield from 2019 to 2021.

He says.: “I feel very privileged and honoured to have been elected to serve the people of Mosborough for the past thirteen years.”

“It’s been an incredible journey and one that I have enjoyed immensely.”

“I sincerely hope that I have lived up to the expectation of the community and would dearly love to be given the chance to continue to serve Mosborough Ward for another four years.”

Councillor Downing moved to Sheffield from Tiverton in Devon in the 1960s, when his father a quarry worker, got a job in the steel industry.

He say’s “Sheffield has been my home since 1964 and I have never wanted to leave. I have found it to be a welcoming City with friendly people and as a third of Sheffield lies within the peak district it is so close to the Derbyshire Countryside.”

After spells as a milkman and a lorry driver he became a bus driver in 1977- and is keen to see bus franchising across the City, giving more control of services to the local authority.

He says: “I became a councillor because I wanted to help people and give something back to society.”

“I have represented people most of my working life as a trade union officer – meeting people has become a way of life giving people a voice and problem solving.”

“I am extremely proud of the way our labour Council has handled the swingeing Tory cuts that we have had to manage over the past thirteen years, unfortunately we are now in no overall control.”

“On a personal level, I have worked hard for the people of Mosborough and want to continue to deliver the best outcomes for my constituents, including a better bus service, improved road surfaces and fewer potholes, stronger action to prevent anti-social behaviour, fly-ipping and nuisance off road bikes and a credible plan to tackle traffic congestion around Eckington Way”

“There will always be new challenges to build on what has already been done.”

“I want to work with a labour Council in control to deliver more council homes, to create more jobs and apprentices, to deliver more Police to keep our communities safe, to continue to work towards a cleaner, greener City and to eradicate homelessness and food poverty.”

Outside of his council work Tony enjoys spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren watching his beloved Sheffield Wednesday and listening to brass band music.

Cllr Downing says: “I am fortunate to have lived in Mosborough for 42 years and represented it on the council for 13 years. Although there has been a lot of development, I firmly believe it still retains it’s unique, village-style community.”

“I would like to see a more tolerant society in 2024 people helping each other if the recent pandemic has shown us anything, this is it.”

“I would like to see the completion of our ambition to regenerate the city, to see our communities thrive.”

“All these things and more can only be achieved as the result of a Labour council and ultimately, a Labour Government at the next general election.”