I am a retired Assistant Head teacher who worked for 32 years.

Full statement

I have lived in Coney Hall for 30 years and know the area very well. My children attended Wickham Common Primary School and Ravenswood School.

I believe in the worth and power of the local community. As such, I was a member of the Wickham Court Players at the Assembly Halls before it disbanded. When I retired, I joined the committee of the Residents Association, volunteered to read with children at Wickham Common School and became a Brownie leader. I am the secretary of Friends of Coney Hall Park and a Well Wood volunteer. I am passionate about keeping our local area beautiful and preserving the green belt which we know is now under threat from development in Bromley. I accept that we need to have affordable housing for our young people and our key workers but any developments should be sensitive and appropriate for the area and on brown belt land.

I have never been afraid to speak out about things that matter to me such as the loss of biodiversity and social injustice. I am the founder of Environmental Action Coney Hall which has won four awards not only for its environmental impact but also for community action. We held a wassail in the community orchard in February and will be running our third open gardens event this June. To date we have raised £1,200 for charity.

I am a hopeful, optimistic person, prepared to listen to alternative views and concerns. I want a better future for our young people. I support the Green Party not only because environmental concerns and social justice are the core principles of its policy but also because it is offering a viable, positive alternative voice which does not seek to divide us as a community by instilling fear and using hateful rhetoric.