My name is Steve Eldridge, and I will be standing in the coming election and seeking your mandate to continue the work of our late colleague, Conservative councillor Jonathan Wilson, on behalf of Addlestone residents.

Full statement

I live locally in Bois Hall Road and grew up in this area, attending Fulbrook School. I lead a church at the Eileen Tozer Centre and my wife and I have three young children at local schools.

I previously worked for Runnymede Borough Council doing press and communications and before that for a government department for 20 years. I have a clear understanding of how the Council works – the good and the bad – and will be able to cut through the noise and get things done. The recent success we had in resurfacing Station Road and reopening the Eileen Tozer Centre is welcome but there is much more that we can achieve together.

Elderly residents and families on lower incomes need the Council’s support, particularly over the winter, and we must deliver on the promise of Addlestone One – filling those empty units. I want to see investment in our parks and scrutiny of our new Council: it is run by Labour with three other parties and four ‘co-leaders’ in charge – a recipe for chaos and disarray.

Like Jonathan, I am standing under the Conservative banner but my promise to you will be to put the community above party, always. I will be knocking on doors with my team in the coming weeks and I very much look forward to meeting you in person and hearing your views about how we can make Addlestone a better place to live, work and raise a family.

Steve Eldridge Addlestone South by-election candidate