FOUR people have put themselves forward for election in Finchampstead – but they’re not General Election candidates.
The parish council has a vacancy and, for the first time in decades, a quartet of people have put themselves forward for the role. As a result, there will be a poll on Thursday, June 8 and residents in the Finchampstead South parish ward will be asked to choose between them.
All the candidates are local people and standing as independents apart from Trig Thomas who lists himself as a Labour candidate.
Becky Eytle is a mum of three who said she was inspired to stand after reading a parish newsletter.
“I always thought who’s going to do this and who’s going to do that. I decided that I am that person.
“Parish councillors represent the whole community, but their work is relatively unknown among people with young children and even younger. They don’t really engage with the parish council, but they [the councillors] do some fantastic work.”
Ms Eytle said she wanted to help build up the community and safeguard the facilities on the doorstep.
Aaron Reader is currently the chairman of Finchampstead North Conservatives and this is the first time he has put himself up for election.
“The parish council is non-political, so I’m standing as an independent,” he said.
The father-of-two moved to Finchampstead a couple of years ago after years of living aboard in Singapore and Australia.
“Finchampstead is a great place to live and I want it stay a great place to live. Through working with the Conservatives, I understand the issues in the area.”
These included fighting overdevelopment, something he sees as a key issue for the ward.
Richard Arturi-Thomas used to be a Bracknell Forest Conservative councillor and also stood as a UKIP candidate in the last General Election, however he has since left the party and again is an independent, not belonging to any political party.
The former magistrate said: “I moved to Finchampstead 18 months ago, this opportunity [to stand] came up and I’ve put myself forward. I think I’ve got the experience to do it.
“I’ve lived in the area for years, just over the border in Crowthone and Sandhurst. I know the area well.
“I will bring experience to local government.”
He cited issues such as traffic, the Nine Mile Ride cycle path and issues of development as matters he would devote attention to.
We attempted to contact Trig Thomas but were unable to do so as we went to press.
The election will be held on the same day as the General Election, and the polling stations for Finchampstead South are in the FBC Centre in Gorse Ride North and Finchampstead Sports Pavilion in The Village.
