Elections: Alresford & Itchen Valley Badger Farm & Oliver's Battery

On May 4, residents will be able to vote for one candidate in 16 wards. Sitting councillors are marked with an *. 

We invited every candidate standing in the Winchester City Council local election to submit 100-word profiles. 

These are the candidates for Alresford & Itchen Valley and Badger Farm & Oliver's Battery and their own words as to why they are standing. 

Alresford & Itchen Valley 

* Russell Gordon-Smith – Liberal Democrats 

Russell has lived in the heart of Alresford for 28 years and has represented residents on the town and city councils taking on the responsibility of two key cabinet roles in recent years.

As an urban designer and landscape architect he has made good use of his professional skills while volunteering for over 20 years with the Alresford Society and serving on both councils. He is proud to work and live in our area.

As a local city councillor and cabinet member for Service Quality, Russell has been working hard to make our beautiful area even better. 

Harry Johnson-Hill – Conservative 

The Alresford and the Itchen Valley is my home and I have lived in the area my entire life, with both parents working in New Alresford in Hetre and on the flower stall on Broad Street respectively.

I was educated in Winchester and I am now working locally alongside volunteering with New Alresford Town Trust at the open days (which I highly recommend!)  

 It has been a pleasure meeting so many residents on the doorstep and in the street, it would be a great honour to represent this beautiful area that I love.

Richard Needham – Green 

Richard joined the Green Party because of their policies to protect the environment and for social justice. He wants his children and grandchildren to grow up and enjoy a happy future and he believes that: 'The future is Green or not at all'. 

Richard grew up in a village and he understands the unique benefits and issues of village life. He is a keen environmental campaigner and will be a strong voice to speak up for local residents. 

Tessa Valentine – Labour 

Tessa lives locally with her husband and two daughters and works for the University of Winchester.

She is a keen cyclist and can be regularly spotted around the area.

Alresford and the Itchen Valley are great places to live but the cost of that living is high. We need to make sure that everyone can thrive, including the best start for our children and young people. 

Badger Farm & Oliver's Battery  

Adrian Brophy – Liberal Democrats 

Adrian lives on Oliver’s Battery Road with his wife and young son. As a freelance writer and photographer he’s worked from home for over a decade so is well-connected to the local area.

“Running a business from home makes your local neighbourhood, shops and walks become a huge part of your daily life,” says Adrian. “Having a young family means you depend on local parks, green spaces and facilities and we’re really blessed with these in Winchester. I want to build on this brilliant legacy.” 

Adrian Field – Labour 

Adrian has lived in Winchester for 36 years. He is an IT specialist who works in international banking.

Adrian is a keen runner and cyclist, so would particularly like to see the state of Winchester’s roads improved as well as an increase in Electric Vehicle charging points.

He is also concerned about the future of River Park after the opening of the new sports centre at Bar End. It should remain as a facility for all the local community. 

Michael David Killeen – Conservative 

Known as David, he has lived in Hursley since 2004, is chairman of Hursley Parish Council and led the successful campaign against the Royaldown proposal.  

David was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community during the pandemic and is postmaster and director of his village community shop. 

David supports brownfield development for both homes and jobs for our children and understands the importance of protecting our rural heritage. 

David acts on your behalf to ensure that the right quality and number of houses in the right location are built but at the same time preserving our valued landscape for future generations. 

Max Priesemann – Green 

I enjoy living in Oliver’s Battery – it’s a great place close to the countryside.  However, lots of issues need to be addressed. 

Young and old have suffered from the Covid pandemic, physically and mentally.  As a doctor, I know that more needs done for people’s health. 

We are affected by increasingly dangerous traffic, and we still only have 3 buses a week.  This needs to change. 

We should build more council homes for those who can’t afford it, but only on brownfield sites. 

I care for nature; our well-being depends on it. There is much to be done – Please vote for me! 

Lincoln Redding – Reform UK 

What is happening to our green paradise?  40+ years of the same parties, our village England and culture are being destroyed as we continue losing all our green spaces, choked roads & rat runs, services and facilities cannot cope, small businesses closing, while councillors focus on vanity projects.

I’m sure you didn’t vote for this, I certainly didn’t, so I am standing for reform and change.  I want to stop unnecessary development, improve delivery of our council services and the value for money we receive, provide an environment for local businesses to thrive and have an open discussion with those living in our community on what you need and want for the future.  

I first visited Oliver's Battery in 1980 and have lived in south Hampshire ever since. My wife Julie and I moved to Oliver's Battery 2002 then to Compton Down in 2015 with our family and two cats.

I am an engineer by profession, a programme director in my career, leading large teams to successfully deliver critical, high-value, business change, transformation or equipment programs. I have been a director of three property companies and I race yachts competitively.

All of this knowledge, experience and capability I will use to represent you as best I can, should you choose to vote for me. 

READ MORE: Winchester election candidates for Colden Common & Twyford and Denmead

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