Conservatives select candidate to fight new MP seat

Councillor Pauline Jorgensen, the current leader of the Wokingham Borough Conservative Group will lead party activists in an attempt to win the new parliamentary seat at the next general election.

She has lived in Earley with her husband cllr Norman Jorgensen (Conservative, Maiden Erlegh) for 39 years, and also serves on Earley Town Council.

The couple have a grown up son who lives in London, with Pauline having a professional background in aviation and IT.

Supporters call her a “local champion” with a track record for delivering for residents as a leading councillor and executive member on the borough council.

READ MORE: History made as Earley and Woodley get dedicated MP seat

Cllr Jorgensen’s career has seen her deliver road improvements and upgrades to leisure centres and parks in Earley and Woodley.

Examples include:

• Tripling the road maintenance budget, ensuring that more funds were available to improve residential streets in Earley, Woodley and Sonning
• Improvements to Loddon Valley Leisure Centre and secured £2million in investment to refurbish and enhance its facilities.
• Developed Bulmershe Leisure Centre
• Opened ‘Fosters’ the new local authority run care home in Woodley
• Brought a new Pavilion, skate park and children’s play area to Sol Joel Park
• Delivered improvements to Meadow Park and creating a new BMX track off Paddock Drive
• Drove the delivery of affordable, wheelchair accessible homes at Gorse Ride and Finch Road.
• Secured improvements to Libraries, reducing their running costs to be able to increase opening hours
• As a member of the 3rd Thames Crossing Group, she sought to reduce congestion in Sonning and protect the historic bridge

Pauline Jorgensen (Conservative, Hillside) as executive member for housing, welcoming the opening of homes in Phoenix Avenue, Wokingham. Credit: Wokingham Housing / Wokingham Borough Council (Image: Wokingham Housing Ltd)

As Leader of the Conservative Group she has campaigned to protect the Borough from unsustainable development, and to stop Liberal Democrat plans to double car parking charges and introduce fortnightly bin collections.

The new constituency is made up of all the Wokingham Borough wards of Earley, Woodley and Shinfield, Sonning and the Reading Borough wards of Church and Whitley.

Cllr Jorgensen (Conservative, Hillside) said: “I am truly honoured and delighted to have been chosen as the Conservative candidate.

“Earley has been my home for nearly four decades. Residents frequently contact me about problems and difficulties they are experiencing, I am always happy to help.

“I have spent years championing our area and standing up for residents as a Town councillor and as a Borough councillor.

“I am excited about the challenge ahead and am looking forward to continue meeting and listening to residents.”

Cllr Jorgensen was made the Conservative candidate for  Earley and Woodley on Friday, June 23.