I absolutely love the community of Horsell and have been involved with it for 50 years. My family was born and raised here and went to school in Horsell and I taught for 23 years, finishing as Deputy Head, at two schools in Horsell. Over the years I have met many of the pupils I once taught, who are now taking active parts themselves in the area as parents and volunteers.
I became a councillor in 2007 to continue this involvement with community and to help to make a difference. Many residents have lived in Horsell for years but I found too that language and cross cultural differences meant that some were isolated so I loved the Friendship Groups I helped with and which connected and included the lonely and marginalised.
Rashid was elected to Woking Borough Council in a by-election in September 2013. A member of the taxi community, he has fought for a better deal for taxi drivers, as well as speaking out on plans to develop the Maybury and Sheerwater area.
Chtira Rana's by-election win in October 2015 was the first time a Conservative had won in Goldsworth West. An ex-Gurkha Rifle, Chitra's straightforward approach to getting things done has already seen him working to address parking and anti-social behaviour in the ward, as well as fighting for the facilities needed locally for young people.
Cllr Melanie Whitehand was first elected in 2007 for Knaphill Ward. She currently sits on the Surrey and Woking Joint, Planning, and Overview & Scrutiny Committees.
Melanie previously held roles within the Association of Deputy Chairman for Politics and then Chairman.
I live in Woking Town Centre and feel the importance of protecting our Green Belt and surrounding woodlands as well as promoting the canal for recriational use.
I will campaign for safer roads and the development of Victoria Arch to ease traffic flow under the railway, and to utilise greater rail capacity.
Paul Smith is a 59 year a old father of three living with his wife, Gail, currenlty living in Knaphill, prior to that Goldsworth Park. His children went to Hermitage and Winston Churchill school. He has lived in the borough since 1984 and most notably a Surrey police officer for thirty of them, including that of borough Inspector. One of his significant achievements was to tackle town centre violence through a mixture of strict enforcement and partnership working. He has also worked for the NHS and currently employed with another Surrey local authority. This gives him an unique insight into both the borough's history and the workings of public services.
