I started my early career working for an investment bank in London.

Full statement

After a few years I relocated to Kent to marry my late wife who was a qualified accountant working in Kent. We had met whilst we were studying at the University of Surrey.

As a result of moving to Kent I changed direction in my vocation and joined the Police, serving with Kent Police gaining promotion after a few years, operating on CID within various specialist departments, eventually being recruited to becoming a Special Branch officer working on Counter Terrorism. I spent my final 12 years of service working with European police services on the Continent regarding Counter Terrorism.

After retiring from the Police I continued serving the communities by becoming a Parish Councillor and then I stood as a Dover District Councillor being elected twice increasing my majority each time. In 2013 I stood as a Kent County Councillor and was successfully elected to the Dover West Ward once more standing for a second time in2017 where again I was elected as the KCC Councillor, increasing my majority over my previous election win. I was Cabinet member for Public Health and chaired several committees of which one was KCC"s investment advisory board, which involved financially assisting and mentoring start up businesses or expanding businesses in the Kent and Dover, Deal area. The outcome of this committee is that it brought in much needed revenue in the millions of pounds to central and local government in the form of taxes and business rates which helps keep residential rates down, these businesses, as they grew, would employ more staff reducing the unemployment figures for Dover and Deal. Whilst a Cabinet Member for Public Health I formed a company called International Health Alliance which was established for the exchange of information on best practice in how various international medical services dealt with various diseases and ailments, to raise standards of best outcomes between countries around the world. Whilst performing my role as a County Councillor I acted as carer to some members of the military who had endured life changing injuries through previous military conflicts.

I am a committee member for a local charity set up to assist financially or otherwise those who are ill, frail or a carer to someone who is in need of support to improve their quality of life.

In 2023 I was mentioned in the King Charles III New Year's Honours list for my continued services to the people and communities of Dover and Deal and awarded the BEM British Empire Medal.

I am standing as an independent candidate because, unlike some of the main candidates, I have lived in Dover for nearly 40 years and I am aware of the local issues for Dover a Deal.

I hold a strong belief in integrity, ethics and morals.

I am the only Dover and Deal candidate who has been an elected local politician with a proven track record of achievements.

If having looked at the other Dover Deal candidate profiles you believe I may be the one you would like to vote for, with a proven track record to care for our communities from the young to our retired generation, then I give my pledge to you I shall :-

1) Work with management of our local NHS to reduce the waiting times for patients awaiting urgent surgical interventions.

2) To improve safety for road users on the A258 Dover to Deal road, the first priority will be to improve and make safer to one and all the cross roads leading off to Station Road at Martin Mill.

3) To improve the quality of life for the residents of Aycliffe by having the HGV during times of Operation Brock and Tap moved back west along the Port bound carriageway west of Samphire Hoe.,so Aycliffe residents will no longer have to endure engine noise throughout the day and especially at night, along with the unlawful use of horns through out the night, with the ensuing diesel fumes, pollution, human waste and littering This community should not have to endure such an infliction. Further to keep Dover moving at times of cross Chanel issues. This will be done by ensuring each junction from Aycliffe to the East Port will be controlled by yellow box junctions which will be maintained so they are clearly visible. The two up lanes of Jubilee Way will be reduced to a single up lane at the material time the outside up lane being coned off to be used as a down lane to hold vehicles intending to enter the Port. Thus the original down lane will be free to carry traffic into Dover and beyond.

4) I will endeavour to have local children entered into local schools of their parent's choice with school transport laid on to serve those children with rural or difficult journeys to school.

5) I will attempt to improve public transport services for rural areas which currently have no public transport such as villages like West Hougham. This could reduce the need for car use on such a regular basis improving our air quality.

6) I will encourage the use of our derelict brownfield sites in Dover and Deal to build affordable housing for our younger generations to be able to enter the housing market and so they can live centrally in town to avoid the extra expense on tight budgets of having to drive to work thus reducing traffic volumes and improving air quality. This will also protect our property developers from continually building massive housing estates on precious greenfield sites which will otherwise be lost for ever.

7) We live in two towns with a wealth of history which the local authorities need to develop. . This will bring in tourism. I will ensure tourist attractions such as the Roman Painted House are improved by KCC to ensure it is properly managed, with regular opening times, make the area around it attractive to the tourist, improve our many other historical attractions in Dover and Deal and ensure when the cruise liners come to Dover we have good tourist facilities so those passengers will wish to stay and visit Dover and Deal as opposed to being whisked off to Canterbury and London. This will bring an increase in much needed revenue for the local hospitality industry.

8) I have great admiration for Dover and Deal's small businesses who are struggling to make ends meet in the adversity of high business rates and the local authority forcing motorists away from town centres by penalising them with parking charges. Why stay In Deal to shop when you can park for free at Westwood Cross Thanet. This i will have changed and I will endeavour to have a reduction in business rates to encourage the take up of empty shops by new or expanding businesses. This will make up for the reduction in business rates and improve the revenue to the local authority and remove the risk of our towns becoming ghost towns with the ensuing problems that will bring.

9) I am full of admiration for those members of the Church and organisations such as Emmaus who devote their time to assisting and supporting the homeless and rough sleepers who are often in a catch 22 situation of having no address therefore they are unable to open a bank account and with out a bank account they will find it difficult to obtain employment or receive basic benefits. These are members of our community, some parent's offspring. I intend to set up a temporary hostel where these rough sleepers can regain their dignity and start to take control of their lives

Finally, whoever wins the election for Dover Deal will become a back bencher and will be unable to influence national policy unless they are a Cabinet Member or the PM. If you would like to see improvements for Dover and Deal over the next few years, vote for a candidate not a political party for they will not support Dover or Deal if they win the election. VOTE for Geoff Lymer to get things done for the communities of Dover and Deal.