Polling Stations
- Caversham Heights Methodist Church, 74 Highmoor Road
- Mapledurham Pavilion, Woodcote Road
- St Andrew`s Hall, Albert Road, Caversham
- Highdown School
2022 Candidates
Isobel Ballsdon, Conservative
Matt Buckley, Labour
My name is Matt Buckley, and I’ve been a resident of the Reading area for over 5 years now. I work as a Data Scientist in the area, and since 2019 I have been campaigning on issues from avoiding climate catastrophe to ensuring safe and affordable housing for residents.
I’m standing as a Labour candidate to ensure we have public services that act in the public interest, rather than simply funnelling taxpayer money into the pockets of a select few. I want to ensure our Labour Council can continue the excellent work it’s done on transforming Reading into one of our country’s first Net-Zero towns, on expanding our publicly owned bus services, and on ensuring all residents have secure housing.
I hope to speak to many of you over the coming weeks, but would love to hear your concerns, so please do reach out about the local issues that you’d like to see a fresh face addressing on the council.
Christopher Burden, Liberal Democrats
I have lived in the Thames Valley all my life, and in Caversham for the last 21: I am a local. Originally from a science and technology background, I now work in project management.
I believe in the importance of openness, tolerance, and social justice – this above all is why I am a Liberal Democrat rather than a member of another party. Fairness and open communication would be at the heart of all I would do, if elected. This is something that has for the most part been sorely lacking North of the River in Reading, with many of our communities being largely ignored outside election time. Residents in Mapledurham told me of their frustration with their local representation in prior years and the lack of engagement over controversial issues – this needs to change.
Combating injustice will be central to my approach – whether it’s ensuring that our green spaces and environment are safeguarded so future generations can live safely, to better enforcement against fly-tipping and speeding on our roads, to ensuring that high-quality services and genuinely-affordable housing are available to all, not just a privileged few.
If elected to the Council, I would hold the governing administration to account. I would also ensure that Caversham Heights residents were kept informed, updated, and consulted about what is happening in and around our community. The Mapledurham Playing Fields fiasco led many in our area to feel ignored by their representatives, and this cannot stand.
Paul Carnell, Conservative
I moved to Reading nearly 15 years ago and am proud to call Reading home. After first being elected to the council in a by-election 3 years ago I have worked tirelessly to improve Caversham. If I am successful I will continue to oppose unsustainable developments and challenge Reading having the highest council tax in Berkshire
Vikran Duhan, Labour
My name is Vikram Jeet Duhan, and I’ve been living in Reading with my family for the last 16 years. I am a postgraduate in Software Engineering and work as a management consultant.
I am passionate about improving the quality of education and support services for mainstream and special schools in and around Reading. If elected as your representative on the Council, I will ensure that no child is left behind when it comes to gaining a quality education. I will also work to improve social care, Caversham Height roads, public spaces, and parking issues, and will campaign for the provision of frequent bus services connecting Caversham Heights directly to Reading town centre and Reading train station.
Over the coming weeks, I will be out with my colleagues to get in touch with you and hear your concerns and, if elected, raise your concerns with Reading Council. Please feel free to contact me via email or call me at 07824 310076.
Looking forward to working with you all and hope to earn your support in the upcoming elections and beyond.
Sue Kitchingham, Labour
I’m a former teacher at Reading College and currently work as an Open University tutor. I have lived in Reading for over 30 years, bringing up my family here in Caversham, where my four children have attended local schools. Caversham is a great place to live – we should cherish it!
I support Labour because I believe we all go further when we work together for the common good. As a national party with a strong base Labour has the power to change things for the better, now. I believe we all benefit from strong public services, so I’m concerned that the legacy of Tory austerity has left them weakened and vulnerable.
I’m proud of the effective and pragmatic way Labour has run Reading Borough Council while I have lived here. As a long-time user of Rivermead I’m delighted to see it being rebuilt with improved facilities. To tackle the climate emergency we need actions not words, so it’s great to see Labour is investing £34m on improving energy efficiency in council homes, as part of their action to reach net zero by 2030. Decent housing and further action on climate change would be my priorities if elected.
Dave Luckett, Conservative
Danny McNamara, Green
Danny McNamara has lived in Reading for 42 years. He has worked in IT in the online fashion and financial services sectors. He is a member of Unite Community and Keep Our NHS Public. In his spare time he is a keen folk music enthusiast.
Danny would like to see a fairer, greener, more affordable town. The Reading Green Party mini manifesto for 2022 is here: https://reading.greenparty.org.uk/manifesto/
Joanna Ramsay, Lib Dem
I have lived and worked in the Caversham area for over 20 years, first moving here after I got my PhD in electronic engineering to work in the thriving telecoms industry in the Thames Valley. I later, in my 40s, retrained as a social worker after a sabbatical period when I volunteered as a general advisor with Reading CAB, and realised that community work was what I really wanted to be doing.
Currently I am working as an advocate across Berkshire, supporting older people and adults with learning disabilities to have their voices heard by services. I am passionate about making local services and facilities more accessible to all, and protecting our beloved local green spaces that have been such a lifeline during the last year.
Like so many other residents, I worry about the levels of traffic in this area, and the associated issues with air quality and parking. So many politicians for so many years have promised us that our problems will be solved by a third Thames bridge, which still shows no signs of happening, so we need to do something different that doesn’t involve concreting over our green spaces. I share your concerns about poor public transport and community facilities in the area that have vanished.
I believe it is time for our brilliant grassroots communities and local activists to take the lead – if I am elected to Reading Borough Council, I will work hard to listen and be available for local residents, and fight for the support we need in Caversham Heights.
Thomas Weir, Lib Dem
Dr Thomas Weir lives in the area with his wife and a very naughty golden retriever. He works at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine as part of the development team, helping raise funds for work on disability, mental health, neglected tropical diseases and vaccine confidence. His background is in sports diversity, focusing on disability and LGBT+ inclusion. He is especially keen to support efforts to promote health equity: adequate care for all based on individual need, not individual finances; and also efforts to promote a cleaner, greener environment.
