I joined the Parish Council as a co-opted member in 2021 and was re-elected unopposed in 2023. I was also elected as Vice Chair in 2022 and re-elected in 2023. Like many rural Parish Councils there are no party politics and there is a real team focus on acting for and with local residents. I’m pleased that we’ve recruited some new Parish Councillors and I continue to be impressed by the diligence and commitment of my fellow Parish Councillors in their various roles within the Parish.

There is an Open Forum at the start of each meeting which allows members of the public to air issues and concerns, which the Parish Council then considers. There is a well-established Friends of Newton Community Park who have been very successful in gaining grants for the multi award-winning Park, and a newer Friends of Clifton Park.

We also have the opportunity to comment on all planning applications. Most recently this has included the Morecambe and Morgan Off Shore Wind Farm route and substations. This includes a 110-metre wide path from St Annes to Penwortham, cutting through the Fylde and with two substations the size of 13 football pitches each and 20 metres tall between Newton and Freckleton. Over 400 local people shared their letters of objection with the Parish Council and we are working closely with the Newton Residents Association and Hornbies Trust to ensure that we continue to keep the pressure on for this proposal to have proper consultation and consideration of local people. We contributed to a Parliamentary Petition which was handed in at No 10 Downing Street and the House of Commons. We’ve called on Fylde Borough Council to not issue an Adequacy of Consultation notice for the next stage to ensure proper consultation for local residents.

Planning remains an area of contention with Fylde Council on (the lack of) enforcement, the slow pace of one planning application and the recent decision by Fylde BC to close the Fylde District Parish Planning Liaison Panel with an elected Chair and replace it with a new Panel with their own appointed Chair.

I sit on the Fylde District Parish Liaison Panel.

I have taken a role around local flooding, and in particular, drains. I was appalled at the flooding that took place in late 2021 and raised a number of concerns about blocked drains. These have required repeated reports and evidence to show that drains are still blocked. I have ensured that over 70 drains have been cleared including those on Blackpool Road which were a danger to road users.

I thoroughly enjoy my role as a Parish Councillor and would love to see more people taking up this challenge!