The candidates vying for your votes in Redlands for the 2022 Local Elections have been announced.
Redlands covers parts of East Reading and the university area, and is seen as a election battleground between the Green Party and the Labour Party.
The entirety of Reading Borough Council is being elected this year, with Redlands being a three member ward.
That means that there will be three councillors elected to represent the area once all votes are counted.
Redlands is currently represented by two Green councillors, who are both seeking re-election, and Labour cllr David Absolom, who is standing down this year.
See all the candidates seeking your votes by party below.
Green Party
Jamie Whitham
Cllr Jamie Whitham has lived in Reading for many years including going to Reading University over 20 years ago. He works with computers. In his spare time he enjoys cycling.
Jamie was first elected in 2012 and has years of councillor experience. Jamie says, “It is an honour to represent Redlands Ward where I live. I have been working to tackle fly-tipping, litter and bin problems. I will keep working hard on issues like tidying up Redlands holding the Council to account.”
David McElroy
Cllr David McElroy has lived in Reading for five years. He works to make food sustainable. In his spare time he enjoys cinema, cycling and spending time with his family.
David was first elected in 2021 and has campaigned in Redlands Ward for four years. Dave says, “I am proud to represent Redlands Ward. I have been working to tackle noise and antisocial behaviour in the ward. I will keep working hard and raising the issues that matter to Redlands Ward.”
Kathryn McCann
Kathryn McCann has lived in Reading since 2007. She works for a local family support charity and is passionate about helping organisations make a positive difference. In her spare time she enjoys walking and gardening.
Kathryn has campaigned in Redlands Ward for four years. Kathryn says, “I love Redlands Ward.
“I have been involved in projects making Redlands greener such as getting more trees planted. I will keep working hard and standing up for Redlands Ward.”
She stood as the Green candidate for Church ward last year, but was beaten out by cllr Alice Mpofu-Coles of the Labour party.
Labour
Will Cross
Will Cross said: “Redlands is a great area that I know well, having lived in and around the ward for many years.
I work as a welfare rights adviser, helping residents who are affected by the government’s welfare reforms to challenge unfair benefits decisions.
“I’ve seen on a daily basis the struggles that residents are facing in our community – if elected, my focus will be on tackling inequality and the affordable housing crisis, as well as the climate emergency.
“I’m proud of the achievements of the Labour-run council: cutting carbon emissions, building new council homes, introducing kerbside food waste collection and providing extra support to families on low incomes during the pandemic.
“As your local candidate, I’ve been working hard to tackle littering and fly-tipping in Redlands, and I’m delighted that the council will soon be introducing a free bulky waste collection service.”
Recently, Mr Cross pushed for Alexandra Road, Hexham Road and others to be resurfaced.
He added: “If elected as your councillor, I will always fight hard to make sure that Redlands ward gets its fair share.”
Marg Cobb
Marg Cobb said: “I moved to Reading in 2014, well before our current hard times, and love our town.
“My life has been formed, and will always be, by concepts of social democracy, fairness and equity and this is reflected in my local activities and is my foundation for making decisions.
“I have extensive experience working with, and in, public not for profit organisations, registered charities and government. Everywhere I’ve lived I’ve been involved in my local community, giving me a deep understanding of how communities work, how to access them and how to provide services to meet their needs.
“Our Redlands community deserves to be engaged with Reading Borough Council decisions, how they affect them and how to effectively engage with them, be it about rubbish collection, parking, planning or something else.
“Reading should continue to be a diverse, prosperous, green, equitable and growing place for everyone that is a model of a great council. I will work for everyone in Redlands to make it and Reading even better.”
Amjad Tarar
Mr Tarar said: “I live locally and work in East Reading as a solicitor, having studied law at the University of Westminster. I’ve been a Labour party member for more than eight years. My children attend local schools and Reading University. I’m a dedicated community worker and serve as the Secretary of the Pakistan Community Centre in Reading. I’ve helped people across Reading with social and family problems, particularly assisting women suffering domestic violence.
“I have a strong belief in community harmony and have facilitated interfaith events which can build bridges between different faith communities across Reading.
“If elected as a councillor I will liaise between the Council and residents to resolve parking and waste collection issues across Redlands ward. I will press the Highways Department to use government grant money to fix the potholes in our streets. I support safe cycling and am campaigning for more cycle lanes.
“I’m ready to represent all residents, believing that we each need to stand for the many, not the few.”
Conservatives
Allison Carnell
Allison Carnell is the wife of cllr Paul Carnell and a Conservative candidate.
Mrs Carnell said: “I have lived in Reading all my life and know what a great place it is. But it could be so much better. I was delighted to be selected in Redlands ward, home to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, where I, and my son, were born.
“If elected I will work hard for the people who live in Redlands ward addressing the issues that blight their lives like the traffic calming measures around the hospital and the proposed resident parking scheme in The Mount.
“I was appalled that the Labour administration chose to increase the council tax as everyone is seeing their household costs increase. We already pay the highest council tax in Berkshire.
“Working with Conservative colleagues on the council I will fight this injustice.”
Simon Holden
Simon Holden is a Conservative member and activist standing in Redlands.
He was recently involved in the Keep Emmer Green campaign, opposing the 223 home Reading Golf Course plan approved by the council in March.
The Conservatives have argued that this election gives voters the best chance to break Labour’s long grip on power in Reading.
If elected, they hope to deliver ‘a better deal’ for residents.
Shivraj Hawaldar
Shivraj Hawaldar is a businessman and Conservative candidate.
If elected, the party’s priorities include protecting green spaces, making sure every child matters, driving investment in leisure and sports, and improving roads and local transport networks.
You can read the Conservative manifesto for Reading here.
Liberal Democrats
Francis Jakeman
Francis Jakeman is a tireless local campaigner and retired church minister in Redlands. He is passionate about the environment, transport and civil rights.
Mr Jakeman said: “I was a vicar until 2013, when I retired and moved to Redlands in Reading, to be near family. I am a keen cyclist. and a member of Reading Cycling Campaign.
“I am concerned for the environment and have taken part in the successful SOAR campaign to protect the Thames riverside.
“As a committed European, I am part of the Reading/Dusseldorf Link.
“I chair the True Food Community Co-op in Emmer Green, and am keen to see the Lib Dems’ manifesto for Reading put into action.”
He was the Lib Dem candidate for Redlands last year as well.
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