Address
Flat 2, College House, The College, Ottery St Mary, EX11 1DQ
Phone Number
01404 815984
Email
Register of Interests
Biography
I moved to the area in the early 1990’s when I met my wife Emma. After retirement I worked part-time for several years at Abbotts in Jesu Street.
This is my fifth year as a Councilor, having first been elected for the North Ward in May 2019. By 2019 there was, in certain quarters, a feeling that a contested election for Council seats in Ottery was long overdue, and I was approached with several others to stand and bring democracy to bear on the election.
I think the issues don’t change that much: The recent rash of new house building on all four corners of the town with no corresponding growth and provision of infrastructure or local employment has led to increased demand for health, welfare and education services which, thanks to central government, will not be met any time soon.
At a local level, the community has responded with initiatives such as the Ottery Larder, which does a great deal more than simply provide foodstuffs, and the Town Council has actively promoted the Grants Scheme, meeting in person representatives from dozens of local organisations with a view to targeting areas where grant funding can be most effective.
It cannot be stressed strongly enough, however, that Climate Change presents the most severe threat to our collective future, and whilst we declared a Climate Emergency some 4 years ago, it is hard to point to any significant change in our behaviour so far that could be said to mitigate the threat.
I was required to shield during Covid, furloughed from work and in isolation, but fortunately my Town Council colleagues rose to the challenge, organising a terrific volunteer response to the pandemic which was rightly the envy of many neighbouring towns.
The most useful enterprise that was started at that time, the Ottery Larder, continues to meet the growing needs of their clients.
The most significant contribution to the Town in recent years has been the re-opening of the youth club at the Station Hub, filling a much-needed gap in our provision for the community.
We have continued to push ahead with plans for a new multi-use games area (MUGA) on land at Strawberry Lane, which will make a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of our community through the provision of state-of-the-art Netball and Tennis courts.
During my current term I should be delighted to see the MUGA project come to fruition, as well as plans to upgrade the building and facilities at the Station Hub, building on the success of the Youth Club.
I see my role as Mayor as a contributor and enthusiastic supporter of the ongoing projects outlined above, and a willing participant in the somewhat arcane pageantry that engulfs the town each year, which we can rightly claim to be unique.
This is my fifth year as a Councilor, having first been elected for the North Ward in May 2019. By 2019 there was, in certain quarters, a feeling that a contested election for Council seats in Ottery was long overdue, and I was approached with several others to stand and bring democracy to bear on the election.
I think the issues don’t change that much: The recent rash of new house building on all four corners of the town with no corresponding growth and provision of infrastructure or local employment has led to increased demand for health, welfare and education services which, thanks to central government, will not be met any time soon.
At a local level, the community has responded with initiatives such as the Ottery Larder, which does a great deal more than simply provide foodstuffs, and the Town Council has actively promoted the Grants Scheme, meeting in person representatives from dozens of local organisations with a view to targeting areas where grant funding can be most effective.
It cannot be stressed strongly enough, however, that Climate Change presents the most severe threat to our collective future, and whilst we declared a Climate Emergency some 4 years ago, it is hard to point to any significant change in our behaviour so far that could be said to mitigate the threat.
I was required to shield during Covid, furloughed from work and in isolation, but fortunately my Town Council colleagues rose to the challenge, organising a terrific volunteer response to the pandemic which was rightly the envy of many neighbouring towns.
The most useful enterprise that was started at that time, the Ottery Larder, continues to meet the growing needs of their clients.
The most significant contribution to the Town in recent years has been the re-opening of the youth club at the Station Hub, filling a much-needed gap in our provision for the community.
We have continued to push ahead with plans for a new multi-use games area (MUGA) on land at Strawberry Lane, which will make a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of our community through the provision of state-of-the-art Netball and Tennis courts.
During my current term I should be delighted to see the MUGA project come to fruition, as well as plans to upgrade the building and facilities at the Station Hub, building on the success of the Youth Club.
I see my role as Mayor as a contributor and enthusiastic supporter of the ongoing projects outlined above, and a willing participant in the somewhat arcane pageantry that engulfs the town each year, which we can rightly claim to be unique.