Laura Blumenthal has been the councillor here since 2015, but only just won the seat four years ago. The closely contested race had just 41 votes in it. This means the Lib Dems will be hoping the electorate look favourably on their candidate. Labour were a distant third last time round – will they make ground this time round?
2023 result
2019 result
| Candidate | Votes |
| Beth Rowland, Lib Dem | 757 |
| Laura Blumenthal, Conservative | 798 |
| Tony Skuse, Labour | 249 |
| Spoilt | 27 |
Polling station
- St James Church Centre
The candidates
Laura Blumenthal, Conservative
I’ve been proud to stand up for South Lake since first being elected to Wokingham Borough Council in 2015.
My successes include getting Fairwater Drive and Kingfisher Drive resurfaced, stopping Wallace Close car park being considered for housing development and improving the lake with new paths, dredging and clearing overgrowth.
I also led the creation of Wokingham Borough Council’s first ever Poverty Strategy and continue to work to ensure that vulnerable residents in the Borough get the support they need.
Outside of politics I am a big supporter of small business and work for a bank publicising the help it offers start-ups.
Since May, when the Lib Dems took over Wokingham Borough Council, I’ve been horrified in that short amount of time that they are:
- doubling car parking charges,
- moving to fortnightly bin collections,
- scrapping free food waste caddy liners,
- cutting down road and pavement cleaning frequency,
- and by not having an up-to-date Local Plan are allowing developers to build in unsuitable locations.
The businesses in Woodley precinct are rightly worried about how the increase and extension of charges on shoppers will impact footfall. I am grateful to the many small businesses who hosted our petition. We want a thriving precinct and need to fight the Lib Dems’ charges to keep it this way.
My family’s roots in Woodley started in the 1960s and I would like residents to put their trust in me again to continue to work to protect Woodley’s green spaces, support a thriving precinct and cut down on anti social behaviour. As your elected councillor, I will listen to your concerns and work hard to keep weekly bin collections, stop the parking charge increases and re-introduce free food caddy liners for households.
Ann Dally, Labour and Co-operative
Awaiting information from candidate.
Carol Jewell, Lib Dem
I have lived in Woodley since 1966, the last 17 years in Kingfisher Drive. I am semi-retired, still doing some technical writing as well as ‘allotmenting’, gardening and grandparent duties.
I use my bike and walk more than my car and see first-hand the state of the roads and other ward issues.
I am part of the Lib Dem team that delivers our newsletter all year round, keeping residents up to date on the good work the Lib Dems are doing.
As a Woodley Town Councillor for South Lake South, I have particular interest in the climate emergency, cycling and youth facilities, as well as ward issues.
