My name is James Bourke, I am one of the three Conservative candidates standing for election as a borough councillor in South Lake Ward, Woodley.

Full statement

I've been a student at the University of Reading for a few years now, and for much longer than this I have have known the area through my uncle living here and frequently visiting. In all this time I've become very familiar with Woodley, with all it's great amenities and pleasant neighbourhoods.

Sadly in the last two years this idyllic town has become blighted by poor decisions from Wokingham Borough Council. The roads have become yet poorer in quality, parking charges have risen (they plan to charge you to park on the roadside), council services have been slashed or eliminated, anti-social behaviour has become worse around the Woodley Precinct, and now they want to reduce your weekly bin collections to a bi-weekly schedule.

As a borough councillor, my goal and that of my colleagues will be to reverse or stop the above issues as a matter of urgency and restore respect in the council for the people of Woodley and South Lake. A vote for us, for me, is a vote to get our town back on track.