Test Valley Borough Council: Election candidates, what they stand for

These are the candidates and their own words as to why they are standing.

Charlton & The Pentons

Paul Howland (Green Party)

Paul has lived in Andover for 35 years, has two grown-up daughters and is a retired engineer. He is a keen musician and an active member of the Ramblers, as well as treasurer of the local Test Valley Green Party. Paul will work hard to help people get their energy bills down by pushing Test Valley Borough Council to support home insulation efforts.

Paul is also keen to improve access to the countryside and town by improving the local footpath and cycle path network and has already made over 100 applications to recover footpaths across Hampshire.

Paul said: “It's time TVBC took the climate crisis seriously and stopped hiding behind fine words. It must take urgent action to achieve dramatically reduced carbon emissions throughout the borough.”

Linda Lashbrook (Local Conservatives)

Linda is married to Phil who is also a borough councillor. They have a son, a daughter and two elderly cats. Linda is currently the deputy mayoress and serves on planning and licensing.

Throughout the pandemic and now in the recovery phase, Linda has remained fully approachable and extremely active. Responding vigorously to controversial planning proposals, flooding, anti-social behaviour and so much more, Linda has pledged to continue her efforts to protect and preserve the idyllic way of life in the countryside villages of the ward, which she does with a passion.

Jean Reynolds (Liberal Democrats)

My name is Jean Reynolds, and I am a retired civil servant. My father was in the army and I spent most of my childhood travelling around the world with him and my family. I moved to Hampshire in the ’80s and have never left.

I have been a single parent but am happily married now. I put myself forward for election as a Liberal Democrat as it is time for a change.

Every part of our society, as we know it, is under threat. Pensioners struggle to exist on a pension which is disgusting; with working families struggling all the time to make ends meet. Youngsters without a great future to look forward to. All our great institutions are being wrecked, the NHS, our schools, our police service and many more.

Everyone should be valued and looked after, not just considering big business all the time and the profit that can be made. I want to be part of an organisation that is thinking about the future and cares for people, including Green issues which are affecting us all right at the moment. We have the technology and should be encouraging everyone to move forward to a greener future.

Norman Henry Richard Woods (UK Independence Party)

A Charlton resident since 1983, married with three children and seven grandchildren. A retired engineering team leader specialising in decontamination equipment within the NHS and private healthcare.

Although representing a political party, local elections are for local issues. If elected I would not be bound by party policies and solely work in the best interests of my constituents. These are some of the things I will stand for:

Protecting public services

More affordable housing

The growth of local businesses

Improved road maintenance (potholes)

Cheaper and more reliable public transport

Chilworth, Nursling & Rownhams

Lee Berry (Liberal Democrats)

I have lived in Southampton since 1995 when I moved to undertake my nurse training and have been working at Southampton General Hospital in a variety of roles ever since.
I remain passionate about health and social care and represent professional groups at a national and local level.

As a family, we moved to Nursling in 2018 with my children both attending local schools.

I wish to help both improve and promote the local area. The best way to undertake this is by representing the interests and issues that concern the residents of Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams.

There is no better time and more needed than now to engage with you and make a difference.

Phil Bundy (Local Conservatives)

Phil has lived in Rownhams for over 50 years and throughout has been very involved in the local community.

He’s a retired company director of a manufacturer in Romsey.

He is your local TVBC councillor, having served for 16 years and is the chairman of Nursling and Rownhams Parish Council.

Phil set up the Community Association locally, is chairman of the Village Hall management committee and has worked tirelessly to protect the character of Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams as rural villages.

Karen Dunleavey (Liberal Democrats)

My family has lived in Nursling since 1935 and I spent part of my childhood living both in Nursling and Rownhams.

My first school was in Rownhams, in what is now the Community Centre. Miss Grace, who many like me will fondly remember, was my teacher.

As a young adult, I moved to Romsey, and it was here that I met my husband.

We stayed in Romsey while we raised our family and returned to Nursling to live a couple of years ago.

I have been involved in local politics for many years, serving as a borough councillor between 2007 and 2014, and as a Romsey town councillor from 2005 until the upcoming elections. I have had the honour of twice being Town Mayor, in 2008-9 and more recently in 2021-22.

I am keen to serve the area I now live in. I love the area and want to be able to represent my neighbours across the Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams ward and do my best to make sure everyone’s voice is heard and their concerns are listened to.

Julie Gomer (Liberal Democrats)

I have lived and worked in and around the Southampton area for most of my life.

I take great pride in my career in the not-for-profit sector, including many years with the wonderful Rose Road Association, supporting children with disabilities and their families.

I am passionate about improving the support and services for those with additional needs and am currently the chair of trustees at Rose Road.

We have two adult children, one of whom is a Lib Dem councillor in the very successful Lib Dem-controlled Eastleigh Borough Council.

It was easy to say yes when offered the opportunity to stand as a candidate for Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams alongside Lee and Karen.

I have many friends in the ward and have volunteered with Karen for many years on Lib Dem campaigns.

Local residents really do deserve better than the “too little, too late” we have had from the Tory administration and I am committed to bringing about real change as part of the Lib Dem team if elected to Test Valley Borough Council.

Mike Maltby (Local Conservatives)

Mike is one of the sitting Chilworth Nursling and Rownhams borough councillors.

He has lived in Rownhams for over 30 years and is also a parish councillor.

He’s an active member of the teams running the Village Hall and Community Centre and is one of the organisers of the May Fair.

Mike has campaigned against further large-scale development around the area, focusing on the need for improved infrastructure for those developments that have been allowed.

Terese Ann Swain (Local Conservatives)

Terese is a truly local candidate having lived in Rownhams for 42 years. Her sons attended the local schools where she became involved as a member of the PTA and as a Governor.

Before retiring she worked at The Mountbatten School as director of finance. Terese is still involved with the school as a volunteer. Terese is a parish councillor and a member of the Village Hall Management Committee.

Since being elected as TVBC borough councillor in 2021 She has attended various workshops and courses to ensure I am well informed to be able to represent local residents to the best of my ability.

She said: “I love my area and hope residents will vote for me to allow me to continue to support them.”