A FORMER soldier has vowed to fight for his community as he stands in the upcoming council election.

John Cooke of Mallard Crescent is attempting to secure a council seat as an independent candidate.

The 65-year-old, who is semi-retired, is contesting Inverclyde South - the ward 7 area where he lives.

He told the Tele: “There is so much to be done within the ward and indeed the district.

“Issues such as housing, drugs, the environment and health have been, in general, neglected, and need to be fully addressed.

“What I’m asking is for people to lend me their vote.

“I believe that I have the skills and the commitment to deliver a good and worthwhile service to our ward along with the other councillors who will be elected.”

Mr Cooke, a former St Stephen’s High School pupil, has served as a corporal in the army.

After leaving the forces 36 years ago he moved back to Greenock.

For the past 10 years he has been a dedicated community activist, giving up his time to be the secretary of the Mallard Crescent and Auchneagh Action Group.

The candidate added: “I have always been interested in standing and considered doing so about 20 years ago.

“But at the time I was working 18 hours a day to provide for my family.

“Now I’m semi-retired so I have more time to offer.

“If I get elected I would give up my job so that I could fully focus on my role as a councillor.”

Mr Cooke, who lives with his wife Margaret, 65, also worked as a contract manager for 16 years and as a regional manager for Kingdom Security before taking up his current part-time role as a security officer at G4S.

He says he has clear ideas on how he can improve his local area.

He said: “With regards to housing, I feel that the residents should get a say in who moves into the area.

“The housing should be for local people.”

Mr Cooke has vowed to take a tough stance on drug dealing in his community.

He added: “My heart goes out to anyone who is affected by drug addiction but I’m totally against people who sell it and use houses and accommodation for that purpose.

“I can’t be too specific but there are one or two houses in the area which are used as drug lairs.

“I think more should be done to stop this and their houses should be taken off them.”

He also vowed to fight to protect local health services.

“He said: “The health service, in particular the IRH, is totally under budgeted for.

“They are also trying to move the maternity unit to Paisley.

“But to expect thousands of people in Inverclyde to rely on an out of town medical facility is unacceptable.”

Mr Cooke believes that being an independent councillor would allow him to focus solely on the constituents.

He said: “You don’t have to sing the same tune as everybody else.

“As an independent your policies are dictated by the constituents you work for.

“You go round and ask people what the problems are and get them sorted — that’s your policy.”