I have lived in Freshwater for five years. When I retired from teaching in 2000 my wife and I moved to the Island because, as visitors for 30 years, it was the only place we wanted to live.
I stood in the 2024 General Election as the Reform UK Candidate for Isle of Wight West as I believe that Reform policies will reverse the steep downward social and economic decline we are witnessing across the whole of the UK. I want to protect the Island from the worst possible scenarios threatened by our incumbent government.
The Island faces significant financial problems over the coming years, and Reform councillors will seek to root out waste and unnecessary spending, so that the burden on council tax payers, business owners and service users is kept to the absolute minimum. I believe that electing a majority of Reform councillors is the only way to counter the historic impotence of disparate groups of Independent and mainstream party councillors.
Afton Marsh has been ruined by flooding for the past couple of years. I want to restore this magnificent ecosystem so that it becomes the glorious attraction for visitors and residents that it used to be. Freshwater Bay, Tennyson Down and the village itself must continue to attract visitors as an important income source for local businesses.
We are lucky to have excellent leisure and sports facilities and a library as well as a fantastic Medical Centre. I will work to keep these facilities safe, vibrant and thriving, and also wish to increase spending when possible on educating and training our young people in such a way that they are able to stay on the Island in affordable housing, built and serviced by themselves, so that we have a growing and sustainable Island community for the future.