It is the day of the election, so here are your candidates for Battle ward.
The ward covers the majority of Oxford Road, including Battle Hospital and Battle Library.
Residents in Battle ward typically vote for Labour, as it has returned councillors from the party for years on end.
Incumbent councillor Chris Maskell was elected as Labour representative but quit the party earlier this year and is not seeking re-election.
In the election held today, voters have the option of voting for three candidates.
Once all votes are counted, three councillors will be elected.
See all the candidates seeking your votes by party below.
Labour
Sarah Hacker
Councillor Sarah Hacker is a Labour candidate for Battle ward, where she has been a councillor since 2010.
Cllr Hacker works for a local charity as their community fundraiser. Sarah has lived in Battle ward since she was a child and loves the area’s diversity and sense of community.
She has been Mayor of Reading and supported Babies in Buscot, Fibromyalgia UK and Reading’s cultural groups during her term. She is a governor at The Federation of Oxford Road Community School & Wilson Primary and is a trustee of Reading Pride.
She is passionate about art, culture and nature being key for good mental and physical health and a vital part of a good education. When not working for her community she enjoys walking, gardening and making clothes.
If re-elected she will continue to be a voice for the residents of Battle ward, fight to protect and improve our green spaces, ensure all children have access to a good education, campaign to improve services and access for those with disabilities and work with her fellow councillors to make the area an even better place to grow-up, live and grow old in.
Gul Khan
Councillor Gul Khan is a Labour candidate for Battle ward, where he has been a councillor since 2008, having been a councillor in other part of the town before this. Gul worked as a trolley bus, then bus driver, before switching to taxis. Cllr Khan has previously been Mayor of Reading and is currently chair of the Older People’s Working Group.
He was a key part of the team that pushed for the bridges at Cow Lane to be improved and ensured £1.6 million of developer contributions from the former Battle hospital site were invested in our parks and community spaces. Gul is a well-respected and hard-working councillor for Battle ward and pledges to support business owners on the Oxford Road and ensure Battle wards is a great place to live by working with Thames Valley Police to tackle anti-social behaviour.
He is also keen to see the Oxford Road made a safer and cleaner space for our community and Reading West station made fully accessible. If re-elected Gul will continue to put the needs of the residents of Battle first.
Wendy Griffith
Wendy Griffith said: “I’m Wendy Griffith, introducing myself to you as one of the Councillor Candidates selected to represent Battle Ward at the upcoming local elections. I have lived in Battle Ward for six years and I work in Reading in advertising sales. I am a keen gardener and allotment holder; I am a keen cyclist and I speak French every day.
“I am a campaigner for alternative transport options for our roads. By improving opportunities for cycling and walking to work and to school, we could see great benefits for our health, our local businesses, and our environment.
“I am proud of the initiatives that the Labour Council have in place such as the extensive tree-planting programme, the improvements to the Kensington Road and Portman Road Parks as well as the Reading Adopt Your Street (RAYS) project to support greater pride in our streets.
“I will be involved in other issues too, that will improve our lives locally including initiatives to counter anti-social behaviour. Our Council tackles this every day despite the swingeing cuts to policing by the national government.
“I look to hearing what concerns you the most in our ward.”
Conservatives
Michael Hey
Michael Hey is again standing in Battle, as he is keen to see taxpayer’s money spent wisely and if elected, he would champion the need for investment in our roads and public transport.
Too many roads across Battle have potholes and this makes it challenging for drivers and cyclists.
Fly-tipping is another big issue that Michael would be keen to tackle if elected.
John Murray
John has lived in Reading 1974 and has worked in the pensions industry. He has been a volunteer with both the National Trust and Conservation Volunteers for many years and has worked at properties and conservation sites across the UK. John has a great interest in Reading’s history and heritage and if elected, he hopes to play a part in local planning and housing.
Lizzy Sheppard
Lizzy has lived in Reading her whole life and is currently studying International Relations and Politics at Oxford Brookes University. This is Lizzy’s second time standing for Council and she is particularly passionate about education and improving life chances for young people, for whom she wishes to be a strong champion.
Liberal Democrats
John Grout
Dr John Grout has lived in Reading for 15 years and works in the telecoms industry, having previously studied archaeology and served as a governor of a local primary school.
If elected, his priorities will be to minimise homelessness in our Borough, and to improve the state of its roads and paths for all users. He is keen to increase participation in local democracy.
Read the Reading Lib Dems’ Manifesto here.
Green Party
Callum Harling
Callum Harling has lived in Battle Ward in Reading for 9 years. He has a master’s degree in Environmental Management from Reading University.
He works for a trade union and is passionate about environmental issues and making a difference in the community.
In his spare time he is a regular runner and volunteer at Prospect parkrun and also enjoys football.
Callum 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/
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