Candidate for Ecclesfield East

I am 43, have a pharmacy degree and work as a medical representative. I am married with a teenage son who goes to Ecclesfield Secondary School. I have lived in the area for more than 10 years and stood as a candidate here since 2003.

My husband used to run the Post Office on St Mary's Lane but business fell away as the government moved more and more services to banks. Post Offices are a vital party of our local communities but they are being destroyed by supermarkets and out of town shopping. Local shopping facilities are vital to the most vulnerable in society such as the elderly and disabled. I fully support the "Local Communities Sustainability Bill" which will now help reverse the trend towards "Ghost Town Britain" with no local shops and services.

Local shopping is also important for addressing climate change which I am passionate about. My job requires a company car and continue to drive the Toyota Prius which is a hybrid car with low CO2 emissions. It has a display that shows you how many miles per gallon you are achieving - I always try to keep it above 100 !. I reuse and recycle at every opportunity.

On the Westwood Country Park wind farm proposal Green councillor Jillian Creasy has commented : "We see wind turbines as iconic symbols of a sustainable future. We must move to renewable energy because fossil fuels are running out. But there are clearly issues for the people who live close by and for the users of Westwood Country park. We think that the community should be allowed to buy into the project. Energy production is a big, profitable business and local people should have a stake in those profits."