After a career in the IT industry, I moved to Spencers Wood in 2012, and have been a Councillor for Shinfield South since 2023.

Full statement

I am secretary of the Shinfield and District Local History Society, so I see our community in the past as well as in the present. When I moved here, large-scale development was already planned, and I expected to see more and better local facilities. I was disappointed. Local opposition to development has proved to be largely futile and we need a more positive approach — making sure we get the appropriate infrastructure, and particularly an increase in the provision of school places locally.

Part of Shinfield South has combined with Swallowfield to create a new ward, an area that I am excited about representing in the Borough Council. We have a great sense of community here and I am keen to encourage and foster this. I want to see open spaces preserved and improved. Where there is wildlife I want to see it encouraged. I want to see practical steps taken to improve the circulation of local traffic and the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. It is because I am interested in people, and place, and improving people’s lives, that I am a Liberal Democrat.