Category: District Ward

• Uttlesford District Saffron Walden Castle Ward (Councillor)
• Saffron Walden Town Council - Castle Ward (Councillor)

Find about roles and responsibilities by reading the councillor profiles, declarations of interest, portfolio ownership and committee membership on specific council websites

• Uttlesford District Council
• Saffron Walden Town Council
• Great Dunmow Town Council

Richard Freeman has lived in Saffron Walden for over 20 years.  For most of that time, he has represented residents as a Castle Ward councillor.  He has twice served as Town Mayor. In 2014 he joined R4U from the Liberal Democrats, becoming a founder councillor  to better serve local residents.

Much of his professional life has been spent in the manufacturing industries, particularly pharmaceuticals and also foodstuffs.  Latterly, he has worked for large international consultancies, providing technical and project management expertise to multinationals and governments.

Much of Richard’s time as a councillor has been devoted to making developers deliver on their Section 106 obligations.  These are legal requirements, often in the form of infrastructure payments made to the council that are designed to mitigate the impact of new housing.  Frequently, developers under-deliver on these.  As a direct result of Richard’s efforts, the town will soon receive two excellent new playing fields off Little Walden Road completed to Sport England standard,  Likewise, after much hard work, the new development of Tudor Park now has a RoSPA-approved children’s playground

Richard says that he believes that “local government has a duty to ensure the supply of homes for ordinary people – not just mansions for the fortunate rich! The limited supply of so-called ‘affordable’ homes linked to housing developments is not enough.  We need new social housing as well; homes that people can rent at prices they can afford. “

He has a particular interest in architecture, and has modernized several listed buildings. This interest was amply expressed when he was involved in managing the repair and refurbishment of Saffron Walden’s listed Town Hall.  Left in a sorry state by previous Conservative administrations, he helped plan and monitor its repair and restoration.  Richard was also able to assist with the design and installation of a very efficient and modern heating system for the building, making this iconic building usable all year, and much cheaper to heat.

• Uttlesford District Saffron Walden Castle Ward (Councillor)
• Saffron Walden Town Council - Castle Ward (Councillor)

Find about roles and responsibilities by reading the councillor profiles, declarations of interest, portfolio ownership and committee membership on specific council websites

• Uttlesford District Council
• Saffron Walden Town Council

Cllr Heather Asker is a well respected and experienced Uttlesford District Councillor, Saffron Walden Town Councillor and has been town Mayor a number of times. She was first elected in 2007 for Saffron Walden Castle ward, where she has worked on numerous residents’ issues.

Whilst being a councillor she has worked on many local ward and town centre issues, including planning and development, parking, road safety and speed reduction programmes. She is particualry proud of the initiatives that she’s driven and supported in Saffron Walden including the refurbishment of the Town Hall, new Common paths and play equipment, the takeover of street cleaning from UDC, and the paving of the market square.

She says she’s “Passionate about the heart of the Town, our fabulous market, now known as one of the best in East Anglia which is regularly featured in the national press.”

She works closely with her other ward councillor, R4U’s Richard Freeman. Both have recently worked tirelessly to hold developer Persimmon to account to deliver a safe play area on Tudor Park and new sports fields on Line Avenue.

Professionally Heather has a career in sales. She has lived in Saffron Walden since 1984 where her daughter attended the County High School.

She joined Residents for Uttlesford as a founding councillor from the Conservatives in October 2014.

• Uttlesford District Debden and Wimbish Ward (Councillor)
• Debden Parish (Councillor)

Find about roles and responsibilities by reading the councillor profiles, declarations of interest, portfolio ownership and committee membership on specific council websites

• Uttlesford District Council
• Debden Parish Council

Stewart is committed to Debden village and the local area having lived there for about 40 years. He has organised Debden fetes, barn dances and other events. He served as a councillor in his 40s and again now that he has retired for the last 6 years. He’s both a Debden parish and a district councillor. At UDC he serves on the scrutiny and governance committees, and is topic lead for aviation.

Stewart is a keen member of the Royal British Legion and until 2018 was a local Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal Coordinator. In 2018 he trained as a Standard Bearer and represented Debden on the Royal British Legion GP90 pilgrimage march to Ypres and the WW1 battlefields.

He has spent a career in aviation. Stewart remains a qualified flying instructor, air display organiser, display pilot, training captain, and Jumbo Jet pilot. With this expertise and local knowledge, he served on Stansted Airport Consultative Group with a particular interest in dealing with aircraft noise and overflight issues for the surrounding villages. This experience makes him the ideal candidate to support Council brief for Uttlesford’s biggest employer, Stansted Airport.

Stewart is particularly supportive of youth and education initiatives, where he seeks to combine his passion for flying with developing life skills in the next generation.  He started out as a member of the Air Cadets, an organisation for which Stewart says he has a high regard. He is a past chairman of 1824 Sqdn (Saffron Walden) ATC and past leader of Debden Youth Club and supports Scouts weekend aviation camps.

As an Executive Committee Member of the Light Aircraft Association Stewart championed flying for younger members. In 2003 he invented and sponsored the first UK Youth Build-a- Plane Project, which is now sponsored by Boeing and The Royal Aeronautical Society. On the back of Stewart’s initial endeavours over 30 kit planes have been built and/or flown by young people.

Stewart also volunteers as a STEM Ambassador visiting schools in Essex to inspire young people about life & career options, and has been a member of the General Aviation All Party Parliamentary Group for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.

In his spare time Stewart enjoys family life, playing badminton, sailing & boating, flying in light aircraft and driving classic cars.

• Uttlesford District Elsenham and Henham Ward (Councillor)

Find about roles and responsibilities by reading the councillor profiles, declarations of interest, portfolio ownership and committee membership on specific council websites

• Uttlesford District Council

Petrina Lees is a very active member of her community. She has lived in Elsenham for over 20 years with her husband, and their family. She cooks for the Lunch Club, runs the Elsenham Rainbow Guides and manages the village rounders team.

She is also well qualified as a councillor. She served on Elsenham parish council for 17 years including 3 years as chair. Petrina has been part of the leadership team of Save Our Villages for 9 years, helping secure last year’s planning rejection of ‘Hellsenham’ by the Secretary of State. She is also a member of the Joint Parishes Council Steering Group.

Outside of the home she enjoyed a career in nursing of more than 30 years, most recently caring for the terminally ill, but left the NHS a couple of years ago to concentrate on her family and community activities.

Petrina stood as an Independent in 2015 and was elected as an R4U councillor for the Uttlesford District Elsenham and Henham ward in 2017.

Petrina said “The first thing we addressed after being elected was the appalling state of the road outside the local shops in Elsenham.  For over 15 years there have been numerous complaints. As Parish Councillors we were always told by District Councillors that they were ‘unable to help or fix it because it was the responsibility of the county council’. That’s as may be, but it is shirking and rubbish, and that attitude holds no truck with me. People don’t care what council you are elected to. As a district councillors part of your job is to advocate for local people and hold those responsible to account, even at other authorities. Within 6 months of being elected we facilitated and contributed to the road being resurfaced. My motto is ‘never give up’ – there is always a way, you just have to think outside the box sometimes.”

• Uttlesford District Great Dunmow South and Barnston Ward (Councillor)

Find about roles and responsibilities by reading the councillor profiles, declarations of interest, portfolio ownership and committee membership on specific council websites

• Uttlesford District Council

Rod lives in Dunmow with his wife and their dog Freddie. He retired from the Armed forces after 25 years in 2015. He became a member of R4U a few years later and was elected to both Uttlesford District Council and Great Dunmow Town Council.

Where do you live and how long have you lived in the area?

I live in Great Dunmow and moved here in 2015 after retiring from the Armed Forces after 25 years of service.  I have visited and worked in many counties and countries; Dunmow is where we have chosen to make our home.

What councillor (e.g., parish) or political experience do you have?

I was elected as a Great Dunmow Town and District Councillor in May 2019.

Are their work details that you may want to highlight that add to your experience?

The military teaches you to be direct, make decisions based on the information to hand and then get on with the job!  As a councillor you do exactly the same thing, but working with a democratic mandate.  Any decision-making system requires honesty, the willingness to learn, and the ability to take responsibility for the decisions you make whether as a collective or individually.

Are you involved in a community or residents’ groups, boards, charities, or volunteering?

I am a member of the Friends Of The Flitch Way and when I can spare the time, I volunteer for their work parties to help maintain the nationally recognised bridleway and cycle trail.

I have campaigned and continue to improve a local byway damaged by irresponsible ‘off-roaders’

I have been active in trying to get a safer crossing built across the Ongar Road and the Chelmsford Road.  I have long campaigned for improvements to the ‘Little Monsters’ and Hoblongs Junctions due to the number of accidents that have and continue to occur at these junctions.

I am a trustee of the Dunmow Museum as part of my role as a District Councillor.

I am the Armed Forces Covenant Champion for Uttlesford; a role I hope to continue into the future.

I volunteered during the pandemic at Stansted Surgery for updating patient records and reception helper. My wife also volunteered to administer vaccines.

Why did you first stand for election, what are your hot topics and what would you like to achieve?

I stood as a councillor because I believe local decisions should be made by local people that are neither affiliated to or represent national party politics.  To be truly local means putting those you represent before your own or your parties’ interests.

Why did you think that standing for Residents for Uttlesford was important?

Local government decisions should not be based on the colour of a rosette or how your national party ‘whips’ you. Hard decisions have to be made and so should be done on evidence, cross party, and without forgetting the effect on current and future generations. After all, making people’s lives better or trying to mitigate the negative effects of things outside of our control is what we all should be striving to achieve.

R4U became the majority party in the District Council for good reason.  The work to improve the district is ongoing.  In the first term of R4U leadership years I have seen the dedication of fellow R4U Councillors in representing their wards and parishes.  I have witnessed R4U Councillors work above and beyond in order to improve Uttlesford.  R4U councillors have the courage to publicly disagree with their peers and party.  I am honoured to be a member of and stand for such a party of diverse personal and political opinion, work and life experience.

• Uttlesford District Thaxted and the Eastons Ward (Councillor)

Find about roles and responsibilities by reading the councillor profiles, declarations of interest, portfolio ownership and committee membership on specific council websites

• Uttlesford District Council

Dr Mike Tayler is a highly respected Thaxted resident and district councillor for the Thaxted and Eastons ward. He’s an advocate for better community services, having campaigned for maintaining Day Centre services in the village and against Essex County Council’s attempted closure of the library. He cares about Uttlesford rural life, Climate Change and our rural environment. That means he is very concerned about the double threats of a new town at Easton Park and a huge airport expansion.

After recently joining forces with R4U with fellow ward councillor Martin Foley, Mike said

“R4U are aligned with my principles and share the agenda I was elected on. We have lots to do to assure the future of Uttlesford. That means I am especially keen that strategic focus is set though the delivery of solid Corporate and Local Plans by UDC. I have been very impressed by how R4U have approached both of these so far. By joining forces with R4U at UDC, Martin and I believe that we will have more direct input over this future, as well as it being more beneficial for the needs of our ward residents.”

Mike and his wife Mary line in Thaxted. He’s been a GP at the Thaxted Surgery since 1986, where he still undertakes locum work.

• Uttlesford District Thaxted and the Eastons Ward (Councillor)
• Essex County Thaxted Division (Councillor)

Find about roles and responsibilities by reading the councillor profiles, declarations of interest, portfolio ownership and committee membership on specific council websites

• Uttlesford District Council

Residents champion Martin is one of Uttlesford’s longest serving and most respected councillors. He’s represented the Thaxted and now Thaxted and the Eastons ward at UDC since 1995. He’s a strong and active local voice who campaigns for our environment, and against airport expansion, urban sprawl on our fields, and the closing of the local libraries.

After recently joining forces with R4U with fellow ward councillor Mike Tayler, Martin said

“Mike and I carefully watched the progress that R4U made at UDC since being elected to lead the council in 2019. They have fixed the finances, got the Conservatives’ £6m failed Local Plan back on track, are contesting the airport expansion, and are delivering a major Climate Change programme. By combining forces with R4U at UDC, Mike and I believe that we will have more direct input over the future of our district, as well as for our ward residents.”

Before the Thaxted and Eastons Independents decided to combine with R4U, Martin and Mike spoke with many residents in their ward to gauge their feelings. They got strong support for the change. Now, as part of a larger R4U group, they will continue to work to deliver the things they were elected to do for their villages.

Martin lives in Thaxted with his wife Claire.