2023 result
2022 result
Polling stations
- Emmer Green Youth & Community Centre, St. Barnabas Road, Emmer Green
- The Milestone Centre, Northbrook Road, Emmer Green
- Micklands Primary School, Micklands Road, Caversham
The candidates
Matt Buckley, Labour
I’m standing this May to be a voice for Emmer Green, and to achieve action on local issues where successive Conservative councillors have failed to do so. I want to build upon the work I’ve done locally and nationally on vital issues to our community, including sustainability, local investment, and public accountability. I work as a data scientist on research projects aimed to improve the lives of people all across Europe.
My commitment is to listen to residents on the issues that matter to them, including building a more environmentally friendly and sustainable town, better local facilities and public transport, and cleaner streets, as well as supporting an inclusive and welcoming local community. I am always here for the residents of Emmer Green, whether by email or over the phone, as well as being out on the doorstep week in, week out.
Pieter De Boiserie, Lib Dem
Pieter De Boiserie and family live in Emmer Green where his children attend the local nursery and primary school. He is a keen runner and enjoys walking around the local copse with his kids and dog. Pieter also enjoys cycling, and is an advocate for safer roads for all users. He wants to protect green spaces in the local area.
In Pieter’s own words:
I live in Emmer Green with my wife and two children and work in Bracknell. My daughter goes to school here and my son attends a local nursery and I want them to grow up in an area they love and want to care for. As a keen runner I enjoy being able to explore our area this way, I am also a big board game fan, which is a great way to relax and to connect with people.
Our green space has been under threat due to the ongoing development on what was Reading Golf Course. During the last few years many of you and myself have been able to enjoy this space and truly appreciate our natural surroundings. There is a requirement for more housing, but we need to make sure we balance this demand with the correct infrastructure, services and without destroying the nature we have on our doorstep.
With the development now going ahead it is important that the concerns of local residents are represented and that contractors are held to the highest standards to make sure our roads are kept safe for all road users and the impact to residents is minimal.
Building a third bridge from Caversham to Reading would require an orbital road to go right through our countryside. I will object to this as there are many better initiatives to help with the traffic congestion for a fraction of the cost.
Stephen Goss, Conservative
As a historian and a policy and research manager for a national charity who has made Reading my home, I am acutely aware of the need to preserve Reading’s landmarks and green spaces, and that households are contending with the current cost-of-living crisis.
Therefore, my priorities for Emmer Green are: resisting inappropriate and insensitive planning applications and ensuring the Golf Course developers listen to and work with local residents. In addition, too many of our roads are riddled with potholes. Grass verges and drop-down driveways are not properly maintained. Pavements are left broken and uneven.
I will work to ensure that Reading receives its share of the Government’s Potholes Fund, Council officials deliver on problems raised by residents, and those with mobility issues can safely use our pavements.
A full double-decker bus takes 75 cars off the road. I will push for improvements to public transport across Reading so that those who rely on it have the affordable service they need, and we can reduce congestion on the roads for drivers.
Finally, I will argue for no further increases in our Council Tax to help ease the financial burden we are all facing.
Wendy Rooke, Green
Wendy Rooke lives in Emmer Green. Her work involves supporting people with their health and wellbeing. In her spare time she is a volunteer tree warden and enjoys open water swimming all year round, as well as exploring the local countryside on foot and by bike.
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.
