I love Reading’s mix of community engagement and entrepreneurial aspiration.

Full statement

When my children were small I volunteered with their preschool and our GP surgery and I saw how dedicated people with big ideas can transform services and enrich lives. This inspired me to get involved in community activities such as clean-ups and events. I was first elected as a councillor in 2018 and have had the honour and pleasure of representing Thames Ward since 2022. I hold drop-in and doorstep surgeries all year round to meet residents and hear about what matters to you and have resolved problems for hundreds of individuals as well as tackling issues that affect all of us.

Recent wins include:

• Installing safety throw lines along our rivers
• Getting sunken boats removed from the Thames
• New 'tiger' crossings for Richfield Avenue and Gosbrook Road

Current projects include:

• Refurbishing the Kennet Walk footbridge
• Working with the council and Reading College on road safety on Kings Road
• Refurbishing the outdoor spaces on the Orts Road Estate
• Working with the police to tackle anti-social behaviour

As lead councillor for Leisure and Culture I am delivering significant investment into our town using funding from central government and funding organisations. These projects include the new studio theatre; the new central library; our leisure centres, including the Outstanding-rated Rivermead, right here in Thames Ward; and Reading Museum's upcoming new roman gallery... with more exciting announcements to come!

If re-elected I will not only be able to see those projects though but also to keep on working on the things that matter to us in Thames, like air quality, traffic and parking, and ensuring that new developments retain retail and amenity space and provide affordable homes without detrimental impact on the existing community. For example, I intervened with the developers of Carters Court and got them to change their planned fenced boundary so that homes backing onto the development still have a the high brick wall at the end of their gardens, echoing the old industrial building that formed the previous boundary.

I have worked for various small charities in Reading and established a local product design business with my husband. I am currently a doctoral researcher, as well as mum to four children. I hope you will agree that I have worked hard for our community and made a difference: please vote for me so I can continue to do so.