Hi! I'm James King and I've been a councillor for South Park and Woodhatch since 2016.
I've got deep and long-standing family connections in the ward having grown up here, with both my parents growing up in Rushetts Road. Me and my wife Katy are raising our family in Hitchings Way and I want to give them the memories and opportunities I had growing up, from visiting New Pond Farm, to using the Sovereign Centre, or just wandering around Earlswood lakes. We're so lucky to have so much on our doorstep, that I want all of us to be able to take advantage of that.
Locally, I've helped with the covid vaccination programme at the Woodhatch Vaccination Centre, I'm at leader at the scout group I used to go to and have been a governor at Dovers Green School. I became a councillor to give back to the area that's given me so much. I'm proud to say that I've been responsible for getting the funding for an outdoor gym to be installed, the building of the skate park, the boules pitch being put in at South Park Sports Club, and getting funding for various small local projects. I was also responsible for the reasons for refusal that saw the proposed crematorium planning application being rejected. It's important that any developments locally take into account, and respect, the views of residents.
I'm currently conducting a survey to understand your priorities for South Park and Woodhatch, so if you want to take part, visit the survey page.