Your local Conservative candidates for Castle ward are Richard Mills, Alex Fiuza and Geoff Davis.
Alex Fiuza:
Based in Ferndown Close in Castle ward, Alex has lived in Guildford for almost a decade, having moved close to his family after graduating.
Growing up in nearby Effingham, Guildford was always a special place to him, as it is to so many. One of his key motivations for standing is to keep Guildford special.
As a young professional working in London, he has extensive experience of the issues faced by commuters. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, reading and long walks on the Downs.
In Council he hopes to be an energetic representative for Castle ward, ensuring the Council focuses on the needs of residents.
His priorities include supporting our High Street, keeping the Spectrum thriving, improving public transport and parking provision so more can enjoy our beautiful town, and shaping planning policy to protect Guildford’s historic character and keep it special for future generations.
Geoff Davis:
Geoffrey Davis has lived in Castle Ward off London Road, Guildford for 25 years, having worked in Guildford for over 50 years.
Geoff is now semi-retired as a Chartered Surveyor. He has significant experience in property, planning and finance matters in the Borough, and could use this knowledge for the benefit of Castle Ward.
Married to Sian for 50 years, with 3 adult children and 5 grandchildren.
Geoff was a Lead Councillor in GBC between 2015 and 2019. During that time, he had a number of successes for the Council, including re-gearing the ground lease on the Tunsgate Shopping Centre (enabling development to get under way) and the Freehold purchase of Wey House (Stevens & Bolton) near the station.
Geoff is concerned that the Planning Department at Guildford Borough Council is one of the worst performing in the country and would wish to do whatever is necessary to correct that.
Richard Mills:
After 40 years in Guildford, Richard has come late to politics. Senior civil service posts on housing and environment policy made political activity inappropriate. After that, extensive and unavoidable travel as Director of an international air pollution charity meant that it would have been difficult to give residents’ concerns proper attention.
As a local Councillor Richard would now have three priorities:
- Promoting local and national prosperity by helping to ensure that high tech and start-up businesses, for which Guildford is already a development hub, have the space to grow and the facilities to prosper.
- protecting the beautiful historic town centre we have inherited. That means resisting the intensive development, excessive building heights and banal ‘anywhere’ designs that the current administration has promoted.
- restoring the vitality of the town centre by easing car access, setting more reasonable parking charges and restoring community events like switching on the Christmas lights.