Martin has lived in Sherston for 31 years, bringing up 3 children with his wife Joy, who is a music teacher.

Full statement

He is passionate about the local community and believes strongly that local politics should be more about individuals and less about political parties and works collaboratively with people with all manner of political views.
His commitment is clear being a Parish Councillor, Vice-Chair of Governors at Sherston C of E Primary School and a leading light with the Malmesbury Climate Action Network and Sustainable Sherston. He is also a Member of the Athelstan Trust which runs Malmesbury School.
Martin set up the Sherston Neighbourhood Network, which comprised over 130 volunteers supporting around 100 people through the lockdowns. He also organised the recent planting of the Community Orchard in the Village Hall field.
He is dismayed at the undermining of the concept of Neighbourhood Plans by recent actions in Government and at Wiltshire Council and the planning free-for-all that is taking place as a consequence. He is determined to reinstate the validity of these as they represent so much hard work and thought by the local community. He has been working hard with over 40 other Town and Parish councils lobbying for change.
He is also a committed grass-roots activist on climate change and the loss of biodiversity. If elected to Wiltshire Council he will be pressing for much faster progress on these issues.