I’m Paddy Lightfoot, currently an Independent Sandown Town Councillor and one of the founding members of Together for Sandown. A forces veteran of 17 years, I moved my young family here 25 yrs ago and set up and still run a family based manufacturing business here in Sandown. Both my sons work in the business and their families live locally in Sandown and Lake and their children attend local schools . So I am completely invested in the future of Sandown.
What does that community investment looks like; 7 years as Town councillor, including 2 years as mayor, managing the challenge of a change of the majority of councillors. Driving through the completion of the Bay Place Plan, establishing and Chairing Building the Bay, the steering group, delivering Place Plan projects now. I’m a founding member of the International School of Rewilding project team. That project is a long term one – but we are making good progress already and its impact will be enormous for Sandown.
It is indisputable that Sandown faces many challenges that are not unique to coastal communities. However there is a plan to get Sandown back on its feet and Together for Sandown is working hard delivering and planning various projects. To implement them, it needs support from the IOW Council. However what we are lacking is effective and enthusiastic support at County Hall. Sandown has for too long been forgotten in the priorities of County Hall. I would not be putting myself forward for election if I thought our current representation was working effectively for Sandown. So if you give me your vote I will be working to support the delivery of projects already underway, to pursue opportunities that Sandown is well placed to take advantage of and to keep Sandown on the agenda at County Hall.