Reading local elections 2022: all candidates in Tilehurst

The entirety of Reading Borough Council is being elected this year, with Tilehurst being a three member ward.

That means that when all votes are counted three councillors will be elected to represent the area.

Tilehurst is hotly contested between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives.

READ MORE: Reading local elections 2022 battlegrounds and key clashes

Currently, the ward is represented by two Lib Dems, councillors Meri O’Connell and cllr Ricky Duveen, and Conservative cllr Helen Manghnani.

Cllrs Duveen and Manghnani are not seeking re-election.

See all the candidates seeking your votes by party below.

Liberal Democrats 

Meri O’Connell

Meri O'Connell, Liberal Democrat candidate for the Tilehurst ward. Credit: Reading Liberal Democrats

Meri O’Connell has served as a councillor for Tilehurst since 2012.

Since that time, she has joined retiring Liberal Democrat councillor Ricky Duveen to work hard for local residents.

Cllr O’Connell is a former youth worker and now teaches at Denefield School.

As a councillor, she has campaigned to save Tilehurst Library from cuts

Cllr O’Connell also stood as the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Reading West in 2019, coming third place.

James Moore

James Moore, Liberal Democrat candidate for the Tilehurst ward. Credit: Reading Liberal Democrats

Campaigner James Moore has lived in Reading since 2009 and been campaigning here since 2011.

Along with Meri, James is inspired by previous Tilehurst councillors Ricky Duveen, Peter Beard and Jim Day, and is keen to follow the examples they set over long years of service to Tilehurst. James works for a children’s toy company.

He has experience fighting for speed limits on residential roads, and as a former chair of Reading CAMRA he is also passionate about our local pubs.

Anne Thompson

Anne Thompson, Liberal Democrat candidate for the Tilehurst ward. Credit: Reading Liberal Democrats

Campaigner Anne Thompson returned to Reading in 2017 after working abroad for many years. Since then she has been campaigning in Tilehurst with Meri, James, and Ricky Duveen.

She is keen to stand up for our community and improve local services for everyone in our area.

Anne is an editor and literary translator, and has worked with community organisations and children’s charities, helping vulnerable people both here and abroad.

Conservatives 

Casey Byrne

Casey Byrne, Conservative candidate for the Tilehurst ward. Credit: Reading West Conservatives

Casey was born and grew up in Tilehurst and is currently in the final year of his studies at the University of Reading. Casey knows that many people in Tilehurst are facing a difficult time and wants to be their local champion on Reading Borough Council.

Casey thinks that Labour has taken Reading for granted and is fighting for a better deal for all of Reading, particularly long ignored areas like Tilehurst.

Russel Frain

Russell Frain, Conservative candidate for the Tilehurst ward. Credit: Reading West Conservatives

Russell has lived in Reading all his life, in the Tilehurst area for 16 years and works in the Automotive industry.

He is passionate about his community and is keen to represent the people within it on Reading Borough Council.

If elected, Russell pledges to support the residents of Tilehurst, with one of his key priorities being increased leisure facilities in the area.

Sandra Vickers

Former cllr Sandra Vickers is hoping to regain her seat in the Reading council chambers.

Mrs Vickers has lived in Reading her whole life and has lived in Tilehurst since 1965. Her children were brought up and educated in Tilehurst and she has previously worked in schools in the area. Both Sandra and her husband have also run their own successful businesses. Sandra is currently a Tilehurst Parish Councillor.

She represented the area on Reading Borough Council for eight years, losing her seat to cllr Duveen in 2019.

Labour

Malcolm Powers 

Malcolm Powers, Labour candidate for the Tilehurst ward. Credit: Reading Labour Party

Malcolm has lived in Tilehurst for thirteen years. He is an experienced campaigner, having been a Councillor for Battle Ward from 1994 to 2001. He is a former Chair of Governors at Moorlands Primary School and was involved in establishing Reading’ first School Street at Park Lane Primary. He runs his own consultancy business, working with NGOs and local authorities on delivering local climate action.

Benjamin Perry-Stone

Benjamin Perry-Stone, Labour candidate for the Tilehurst ward. Credit: Reading Labour Party

Benjamin Perry-Stone is a Labour campaigner hoping to take a seat in Tilehurst away from the opposition.

The Labour party has argued that it has been responsible with the council’s finances, allowing it to invest an extra £5 million in Adult Social Care and £1 million in childrens services.

Reading Labour has also voiced its commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Sikander Hayat

Sikander Hayat, Labour candidate for the Tilehurst ward. Credit: Reading Labour Party

Sikander Hayat is also standing for the Labour party.

The party has pointed out that upgrades to The Meadway Leisure Centre are due to take place this year.

It has also invested £88 million to build council houses, and upgrade existing homes in Tilehurst.

The Labour administration has touted massive road resurfacing programme, which includes roads in Tilehurst, in its manifesto, which you can read here.

Now in the third year of the programme, once it is complete, 436 roads would have been resurfaced as part of a £9 million project.

Green Party

Gabriel Berry-Khan

Gabriel Berry-Khan has lived in Reading for over 10 years. He has worked in sustainability and now runs a small business. When not working he enjoys spending time climbing, walking and playing football.

Gabriel 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/