Polling Stations

Woodford Park Leisure Centre, Haddon Drive, Woodley
Beech Lodge, Sonning Guide & Scout Hall, Liguge Way, Off Pound Lane, Sonning

2019 results

2019 candidates

Michael Firmager, Conservatives

Michael works for an Insurance Broker, where he is a qualified insurance professional.

Michael has a number of varied interests including football, cricket, rugby, snooker, gardening, drawing and painting.

He was previously a Borough Councillor and fulfilled a number of roles including the Deputy Executive Member for Environment, Sport, Leisure and Libraries. He was responsible for the management of contracts for drainage works, which included Thames Street, Sonning.

If Michael is elected, his main priorities are to protect the Green Belt, preserve the environment, work with the police to fight crime and work for safer roads by managing traffic and reducing speeding/dangerous driving.

Philippa Hills, Labour

I’ve been a member of the Labour Party for over 30 years.

Now retired, I was formerly a primary school teacher in local schools in Reading for over 20 years.

I was also one of a group of six who set up the first Women’s Refuge in Reading. I am an active member of of our local Labour Party Branch.

Tom McCann, Liberal Democrat

Tom McCann lives in Woodley with his wife and has twin daughters. He is chairman of Reading-based charity SARA UK, which supports asthma sufferers.

Tom has been a District (Borough) Councillor, serving over a total of 11 years.

He is concerned about traffic/congestion as well as the provision of good/local leisure facilities for people who want to keep active.

Brian O’Callaghan, Green

Brian O’Callaghan has lived in Sonning for 23 years. He will be a familiar sight to many, walking Eimear, the Irish Terrier, around the village.

Brian has campaigned effectively on local environmental and planning matters. He was a founder member of the Sonning & Sonning Eye Society and has served as its vice-chair and as chair of its planning panel. Like many residents he is concerned about inappropriate development, excessive traffic and parking issues.

Brian is a historic buildings consultant. For most of his career he taught history of art and architecture at the University of Reading and was for 10 years Head of the School of Continuing Education.

He has also worked as the Head of Education for the Royal Town Planning Institute and as Conservation Officer for a nearby local authority.

He has been a governor at Reading Bluecoat School and currently serves as a local Magistrate.