Reading Borough Conservatives have announced the second tranche of their candidates for the 3 May local elections. The candidates are:
Abbey – Alex Coleman – Alex (26) lives with his family and works in Caversham. He is a keen runner and a passionate supporter of Reading Football Club attending every home game. Alex wants to see more done to reduce congestion in the town centre and to improve parking.
Katesgrove – Richard Robeson - Richard (30) is a Masters Student and lives in the heart of Katesgrove ward on Kendrick Road. His priorities are ensuring the environment is protected and crime tackled so that all people can enjoy living close to the centre of the greatest town in England.
Norcot – Michael Fairfax – Michael, who is now retired, served an electrical apprenticeship followed by a career in the civil service. Michael moved to Reading in 1966. Married, with two grown up children, he is keen to serve the community.
Park – Laurence Taylor - Laurence and his wife have lived in Reading since 2005 and he works for a local IT firm. Laurence is passionate about improving the aspirations of young people and works with Young Enterprise to develop leadership and business skills with secondary pupils. He welcomes the proposed new Technical Academy as an innovative way to develop the skills that employers want.
Redlands – Leo Lester - has lived in central Reading since studying at Reading University. He now works for BG Group in Thames Valley Park and helps out at an after school club. He spent a night sleeping rough to raise the issue of child homelessness in Reading. Leo is an active voice campaigning for local people. In 2010 he organised a petition demanding the Council explain the misuse of council taxpayers' money. Leo wants to represent everyone in Redlands, and ensure the Council delivers value for money services for the benefit of all.
Southcote – Ali Asghar – Ali has lived in Southcote for 13 years and is a successful local businessman running his own taxi firm. Ali campaigning for better roads and traffic management around Southcote and to make sure that any new housing developments are sustainable.
Whitley – Nick Brown – Nick has lived in Whitley Wood for the past 22 years. If elected he will campaign for more local police officers on the beat and for abandoned vehicles to be removed more quickly. As a buyer for a Berkshire manufacturing company, Nick is concerned with getting value for money for every pound spent and is keen to see council tax kept down.
Candidates previously announced are:
Battle – Imraan Ishtiaq
Caversham – Cllr Dave Luckett
Church – Cllr Azam Janjua
Kentwood – Cllr Emma Warman
Mapledurham – Cllr Isobel Ballsdon
Minster – Alanzo Seville
Peppard – Jane Stanford-Beale
Thames – Ed Hopper
Tilehurst – Robert Vickers
Conservative Leader Cllr Tim Harris said, “The Conservatives are standing a candidate in every ward once again. We are the party of the whole Borough with high quality candidates who represent the diverse population of Reading. I am proud to lead a team of candidates and Councillors who have the interests of local people at heart.”