2023 result
LABOUR HOLDS. Jan Gavin receives 1,563 votes and consolidates her ward seat.
2022 result
2019 result
Polling stations
- Caversham Library, Church Street, Reading
- New Bridge Nursery School, Montague Street, Caversham
- The Weller Centre, Amersham Road, Caversham
The candidates
Christopher Burden, Lib Dem
Chris Burden has lived in the Thames Valley all his life, and in Caversham for the last 22: he is a local. Originally from a science/technology background, he now works in project management. Chris believes in the importance of openness, tolerance, and individual liberty. Fairness and open communication would be at the heart of all he would do, if elected. But, he would focus particularly on social justice, confronted by deep unfairness, inequalities and divisions in society. As a councillor on Reading Borough Council, he would hold the Labour administration to account.
In Chris’ own words:
I have lived in the Thames Valley all my life, and in Caversham for the last 22: 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 have 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 residents were kept informed, updated, and consulted about what is happening in and around our community. The traffic fiascos have led many in our area to feel ignored by their representatives, and this cannot stand.
Jan Gavin, Labour
I was first elected to represent Caversham Ward in May 2022 having previously been a Labour Councillor for Redlands Ward from 2011 to 2019.
I am now actively retired, but I was a teacher at Highdown School for 23 years, then an education advisor for Reading Borough Council, working with primary schools across the town and lastly a regional coordinator for the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency.
I am honoured and delighted to have been selected again to stand for Caversham Ward for Labour and look forward to the opportunity to continue working on projects such as a 20mph zone for the Amersham Road estate, a pedestrian crossing outside Caversham Primary School, improving play parks in Caversham and dealing with fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour. I am particularly interested in being a ‘community councillor’; by working with communities to raise and solve issues to improve and enhance Caversham as a place to live, work and play.
I promise to be accessible and responsive to residents, to always fight for Caversham and report back regularly on our work as Councillors.
Mark Palmer, Green
Mark Palmer is a retired engineer who’s been a happy Caversham resident since 1987. When not campaigning on a range of environmental, animal rights, refugee and European issues, he enjoys rambling, ham radio and fire-eating.
Green councillors and candidates are working for a fairer, greener, more affordable town.
Greens did so well at the council elections last year that we overtook the Conservatives becoming the second largest party on Reading’s Labour-run council (32 Labour councillors, 7 Green, 6 Conservative and 3 Lib Dem). Labour have a very large majority of councillors but it is very close between Greens and Conservatives for second place.
Vote Green at the council elections on Thursday 4 May for hard work year-round but also to keep the Green Party ahead of the Conservatives as the main opposition party on Reading Council.
Get involved with the campaign. We will only win with your help.
Saadia Saadat, Conservative
By profession, I’m a CRM Manager and have been living in Caversham ward for the last 13 years. As a resident of the ward, I know some of the challenges that residents and businesses face while but I also see the many opportunities that exist to make Caversham an even better place to live, work and bring up a family.
My key priorities for the ward will include protection of our green and open spaces through increased seasonal planting and regular maintenance, whilst also ensuring that we have better local sport provisions and much-improved facilities for both young and old.
I also believe that the construction of new housing should be sustainable and only built in suitable locations with community support, not imposed on our precious green belt areas, such as the 200+ houses that RBC’s Labour administration has allowed to be built on the former site of Reading Golf Club. Not only will the construction phase add to our town’s endemic traffic congestion but also add to Reading’s CO2 emissions.
I will push for an increased police presence across the ward and campaign for our fair share of community police officers, in order to tackle knife crime and anti-social behaviour so we have safer streets
I am also committed to growth in our local community, I would run community-led skills programmes, in collaboration with the borough council, to enable our young people to be increasingly adaptable to the UK’s rapidly evolving economic, social and technological landscape.
