I have lived in Cherry Hinton since 1971. Our children went to school here, and my wife and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. You elected me as your councillor in 2011, and it’s been a privilege to serve my community since then. I also chair Cherry Hinton Residents Association, volunteer at Darwin Nurseries, and help with the Barnwell Baptist Church Owls – a group for pre-school children. You will probably see me attending the war memorial garden in front of the High Street recreation ground that I took upon myself to be a fitting and looked after area to our War Dead.

My time as a councillor so far has just flown by, yet there have been real gains, with the new Community Hub now under construction (and set to open later this year). This is a huge Labour achievement, and will be run by the community for the community. I’ve been able to secure improvements to the High Street and Rectory Terrace, the new pavilion and equipment on Cherry Hinton Rec, new village signs, bus shelters and paths, and various other improvements including the High Street War Memorial, Tenby Close play areas, bollards by Dorrington’s – and much more.

During the Colville Road development, I worked with other ward councillors to ensure mobile shops were open, and ensured shop owners would have a right of return to the new units. I spoke up for Cherry Hinton during the congestion charge debate, and was featured on the radio and in the press explaining why I believed this was unfair for Cherry Hinton Residents – and I am pleased that a decision not to go ahead was finalised last year.

Thanks for giving me your support over the past few years. There is still plenty Labour can do in Cherry Hinton, and I hope you choose to put your trust in me again this May.