Ed Skeates is standing for Horsham District Council to champion practical, community‑led solutions for Slinfold, Itchingfield and Warnham.

Full statement

With a background in housing and finance, he brings a clear focus on affordability, sustainability and protecting the character of our villages. Ed is committed to transparent decision‑making, supporting local services, and ensuring development works for residents rather than being imposed on them. He believes in constructive collaboration and giving communities a stronger voice in shaping their future. Ed lives locally and is a parish councillor in Slinfold and wants to strengthen the resilience, fairness and wellbeing of our rural parishes. In particular he will focus on:

Housing
Horsham needs new homes, but they must be the right homes in the right places. The Liberal Democrats believe development should come with the infrastructure families need — including GP surgeries, school places and transport links. We will prioritise genuinely affordable homes for local people while protecting the character of our towns and villages. Ed chaired the Slinfold Neighbourhood Plan and successfully challenged developers to reduce proposed housing numbers down from initially over 700 to a final allocation of 77 homes in Slinfold Parish.

Improving River Quality
Our rivers and streams should be safe, clean and thriving for wildlife and residents alike. The Liberal Democrats are campaigning to end sewage dumping and hold water companies accountable for pollution. As a keen canoeist , Ed will push for stronger monitoring, tougher penalties, and real investment so our local waterways can recover.

Protecting Green Spaces
Green spaces are part of what makes Horsham such a wonderful place to live. The Liberal Democrats will fight to protect parks, countryside and wildlife habitats from inappropriate development. By safeguarding these spaces and expanding access to nature, we can ensure future generations enjoy a greener, healthier Horsham. In Slinfold Ed fought and was able to secure a new footpath from WSCC giving new access to a previously inaccessible green space for the village.