Kathryn Allman, TUSC candidate for Spencers Wood & Swallowfield, Wokingham Borough Council
Private developers are allowed to build endlessly in my area of Spencers Wood and its surroundings, just outside Reading, without the infrastructure to support it. Why? Because infrastructure costs money, and all the developers are interested in is profit.
It took two years for my family to access a local NHS dentist. There is a severe lack of nursery and school places, forcing families into impossible routines with multiple drop-offs, pushing children out of their own communities, and in some cases driving families to move away altogether due to a lack of confidence in local secondary provision.
I have raised concerns about unsafe roads and access to children’s SEND and mental health support, only to be met with silence or excuses. Meanwhile, council tax keeps rising. People are paying more and getting less and we’re expected to accept it!
Like many people, when the Tories were kicked out in 2024 I hoped things would change. Instead, we have seen continued cuts, rising council tax, and decisions that prioritise profit over people.
I’m standing to challenge this broken way of doing politics and to reject the idea that nothing can be done. Our community is being failed, we need to fighting for fully funded public services to meet the needs of all.
