My name is Simon Smith, and I’m your city councillor in Castle Ward. Since being elected in May 2021, I have given what Castle residents deserve:

i) Full time commitment,

ii) Competencies, gained from 40-years of experience in town planning, local government management and business,

iii) Better outcomes for residents and the environment.

On the doorstep, residents said they wanted the Council ‘to do more to tackle the climate emergency.’ To fulfil my pledge to act on this, I have:

i) Established Cambridge’s response to the climate and biodiversity emergencies as the Council’s top Corporate Plan priority,

ii) Promoted modernisation of budgets to demonstrate value through service outcomes and progress towards net zero carbon and tackling poverty,

iii) Promoted emerging Local Plan policies for more energy efficient buildings, lower water consumption and biodiversity net gain,

iv) Pioneered at Darwin Green the ‘Castle’ planning condition to ensure homes, to be built before 2025, can be switched from gas to air source heat pumps in a day.

I have been meeting, listening to, and helping residents with their issues. With residents in Howes Place, Woodlark Road, Hoadley Road and Windsor Road, I have worked to protect residential amenity and secure better development outcomes in Darwin Green. I have supported Cllr Cathie Rae in bringing forward the stalled Oxford – Windsor Road improvement works.

My wife and I have lived in Castle since 2003 and our children have attended Mayfield and Chesterton schools. I am seeking re-election on 5th May with a pledge to continue to work full time for residents and a greener City that is fair for all.