Michael has lived in Spelthorne for 12 years.

Full statement

He has a deep love the area, citing its unique open spaces, riversides, local shops and cafes as well as the myriad of local organisations the work to strengthen the community. Alongside this, he notes that the borough is home to many warm and friendly people whom he meets on a daily basis. Michael is aware of and empathetic to a broad range of issues that are being experienced across our community. He strongly believes that the impending Council reorganisation, which will see Spelthorne council replaced by a West Surrey & South Middlesex authority, is a critical opportunity to ensure that a quality team of representatives, free from the status quo, are in place to tackle these issues head on.

Michael has a PhD in Chemistry and, before retirement, worked in the consumer goods industry at an international capacity. He strongly believes that the skills he practiced whilst managing multi-discipline global teams and regulatory agencies would be an asset to the role of Councillor, particularly as part of a shadow council setting up the new autority. His key areas of concern are the increasing levels of crime, the state of local roads, polluted waterways, the lack of flood defence, protecting our green spaces and reducing the concerning level of debt we are to inherit from day one. Michael believes that the Liberal Democrats are the only party who can tackle this mammoth task effectively.

In his personal life Michael is a carer for an elderly person with complex health needs and, like many in the same position, is concerned with the lack of support for carers and those with health issues across our community. During his free time, he volunteers as a steward at Brooklands Museum, helps to run a Music Society in Twickenham, coaches a Ladies Hockey team and is an annual volunteer for the London Jazz Festival. He says “I recognize that the fundamental duty of a Councillor is to listen to residents needs and, if elected, this for me would be a clear priority”.