We come from many walks of life with different life experiences and different political views, but we can all unite in our desire to keep our community strong and good to live in.

Full statement

We may vote for national parties in national elections, but in local government the most important thing is to have capable representatives who live locally, like Gren and myself who are both long term residents of Egham, who know the new ward well, and care about its future.

Egham town has elected Independent Resident councillors over many years. We are your neighbours; we live here and know the place and the local issues well. We’ll work with other councillors from any political party, for whatever brings most benefit to the new Egham ward and we’ll vote independently, unwhipped, however we think best for our community. Egham is simply a better place to live for having strong, local, Independent representation. Our concern is to safeguard the new Egham ward’s interests in the future, when there’ll be fewer representatives and decisions will be made more remotely, by people who may not know Egham at all.

Individual details are below, but if elected, our shared aims will be to:

• Foster a collaborative approach, like Isabel has done as part of the Runnymede Council Alliance at RBC. This will be essential if, as likely, no single party gets overall majority.
• Maintain services to support people living active lives, independently within their homes, in spite of budgetary pressures on the new authority.
• Keep strong engagement with the River Thames Scheme to maximise benefits for those in high flood-risk areas in Egham Hythe and Egham.
• Oppose gravel extraction at Milton Park and Whitehall Farms.
• Fight for improved pedestrian access to Runnymede meadows.
• Embed high standards for SEND at the new council.
• Press the new authority to take potholes seriously.
• Support the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, giving more choice on how to get places, reducing congestion and being good for health.
• Attempt to crack the Pooley Green rail crossing nightmare - we will call the council to lead a task force to get action from the rail authorities.
• Hold regular open sessions for advice, information and sharing of views.

I’ve lived in Egham for 40 years, bringing up my family here. I trained and worked as a scientist; more recently I’ve been a special needs assistant at Manorcroft School Egham, a Parent Governor at St. Cuthbert’s school in Englefield Green, and an adviser for Citizens Advice. I’ve been an Independent Egham Town councillor at Runnymede for 7 years, supported by Egham Residents Association (ERA), sitting on the Housing, Community Services and Planning Committees.

Highlights for me include:

• Successfully advocating to improve Council Tax Support.
• Working with Runnymede to help residents with Housing issues.
• For transparency and accountability, successfully championing livestreaming and recording of council meetings, so those who can’t attend can watch at home.
• Successfully pushing RBC to commit to Net Zero emissions by 2030.
• Chairing a wide-ranging working group on student accommodation, getting the university to own up to the harm it has had on availability of family homes in Egham and Englefield Green and to face up to its responsibilities.
• Stopping the university plan to extend night-time opening of the Spring Rise Gate.
• Supporting AtTheLit and ERA in successful bids for funds to improve heating at the Literary Institute, and for an Outdoor Gym on Manorcroft Field (coming soon!).
• Campaigning for local management of Runnymede Pleasure Grounds in advance of the Local Government changes.

For 50 years, Runnymede Council was run by a single party. However, since 2024 the Runnymede Council Alliance has been in charge, of which Runnymede Independents have been a part. The changes we’ve made, especially the improvement in Runnymede’s finances, have only been possible by working together, and I value highly the work of our alliance partners. I’ve worked well with fellow councillors – I’ve chaired our group meetings, helping achieve consensus. A collaborative approach like this will be essential in the future, with possibly no single party having a majority.

My priorities, beyond our shared ones above, will be to:

• Influence the review of our Local Plan, to include policies important to Egham, such as protecting family homes and controlling development of HMOs.
• Rigorously scrutinise developments at the Precinct and on the Causeway, with inevitable pressures from Government for high-density housing all across our ward.
• Keep up pressure on the University to act responsibly + with respect to our town.
• Continue to support residents with Housing issues.
• Crucially, I’ll demand transparency in decision making in West Surrey, and press for proper engagement with residents, both online, and using more traditional methods.

I am very happy to be running for election with Gren, who’s good at thinking outside the box and comes up with fresh ideas. I think we will make a good team.