I don’t think our council of 42 Lib Dems has listened to residents in a long time.

Full statement

I want to see a council that focuses on:

• help with the cost of living
• building communities, not skyscrapers
• clean, green and safe streets

I’m standing to help stop the overdevelopment of central Kingston. Plans for a twenty storey tower block and the overdevelopment of Middle Mill are unacceptable and would make residents lives a misery. These plans do not respect the special character of the area.

• About me

I’ve lived in Kingston upon Thames for 20 years and I’ve loved it from day one! We have an amazing community here.

You might have seen me over the years in the local parks or walking, very slowly(!), down the streets with my basset hound Rosie.

One of the great things about having a dog, particularly a very friendly, very slow walker like a basset, is the chance it gives you to interact with people every day. You see what’s going on in the area, hear some of the local gossip and get to know what’s on people’s minds. It is one of my favourite ways of feeling part of the Kingston community.

I work for the NHS and it is an honour to be part of something I feel is best about Britain and its people. Like many, I owe my life to the NHS. It was there for me when I was diagnosed with cancer and I will never forget the debt I owe to the amazing care and support I received from the doctors and nurses as I fought the hardest battle of my life.

That’s why I use the time I have been given back to fight hard for other people who might need my help.

• Why I am standing

I’m standing for Kingston Town because I want to help make things better for people. I believe strongly that we can achieve great things when we all work together.

Having previously worked with a number of public sector organisations and businesses, I have first hand experience of how to get things done and ensure prompt action from the likes of Kingston Council, Transport for London, etc.

I have led campaigns that have:

• INCREASED RESIDENTS PARKING spaces in a Kingston Town road when the Lib Dem council wanted to remove them completely
• Forced Kingston Council to provide residents living in flats over shops with a RECYCLING SERVICE after years of broken promises and fines
• PREVENTED THE SALE of dangerous, very high alcohol drinks from a known anti-social behaviour hotspot
• Pressured the current Lib Dem councillors into a PUBLIC U-TURN on their support for the removal of a Kingston bus stop relied on by disabled and older people for their independence.

If you have an issue and would like my help, please do contact me.

Being a councillor is a privilege that should be about helping your neighbours and your community. A councillor should be there to listen to the people, not to play political games.

I promise to put residents first.