I am honoured to be selected as your Liberal Democrat County Council candidate.

Full statement

I’ll build on all of Zoe Patrick and Jenny Hannaby’s hard work to secure vital services – getting in funding for crumbling roads, children centres, day services for the elderly, youth services like the Sweatbox all of which have been cut by the Tories over recent years at a time when needs are increasing. When I hear on the doorstep that young children cannot get a place at a local school or when older and vulnerable people in the community tell me they feel excluded the needs are very real.

I will work hard to secure Wantage and Grove get more services not fewer, to stop the wastage of public funds and will demand that on vital decisions such as any proposed closure of services at our Community Hospital or the diversion of the A34 through our town that these are taken openly with proper public consultation. I have thirty years experience working in health and education and believe the solutions exist in our communities if the public is heard and comes together. The thousand of us who took part in the recent Hospital March epitomises the passion we have for local services.

When the Conservatives took the District in 2011 we were promised fewer houses. Instead we have more and many more to come. We need housing that is affordable but with local employment, we need roads that are freed up and we need to tackle increasing pollution. I will work with Jenny to find solutions and be a strong and experienced voice for the public.