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It’s Teresa’s love of community that has driven her work as a councillor in Harpenden; a position she has held for more than 35 years and has no plans to stop any time soon.
Having lived in Harpenden for 40 years, she has an in-depth knowledge of the town and is focused on listening to the needs of residents. She said: “I’ve been doing this a long time and I understand what community is. It’s about thinking about the people around you, and how what you do affects them, and not just doing something because it’s politically correct. I am told that I’m a good listener and good at getting things done so residents tend to come to me with their concerns. I’ve always had an interest in politics and was a Young Conservative as a teenager.”
Teresa started out on Harpenden Town Council in 1989, became Harpenden Mayor in 2001 and was elected as a District Councillor in 2006 before joining the County Council, where she has been cabinet member for Public Health and Localism (which included a seat on the County’s Health and Wellbeing Board and became Chairman of the Armed Forces Covenant) and latterly cabinet member for Children, Schools and Families. “When I first started out as a councillor, I hated it because I wasn’t used to people having ‘a go at me’. But I stuck with it and gradually got into the role. It's surprising how you just get into listening to things, and now I’m used to campaigning on behalf of people. I absolutely loved my year as Town Mayor. I got to meet so many people. It’s those human connections I enjoy.”
Her successes include getting three road safety crossings installed the A1081 near the junction with on the West Common, Walkers Road and Piggottshill Lane as well as initiating a 20 miles per hour speed limit in the Cravells Road area and Leyton Road. Listening to the community also lead Teresa to working with community volunteers to install new equipment at the parks in Oakley Road and Parva Close and being a co-founder of the charity running the Harpenden Hopper Bus (community transport); a past President of the Harpenden Trust and now a proud member of the Royal British Legion (Harpenden) Committee.
“I understand all about localism and helping people. I also care passionately about planning,” she explained. “That’s what councillors should do. They should listen to residents, feedback their priorities and do what they can to make things happen. Over the years the money has got less, so we haven’t been able to do so much, but I do the best I can with the money we’ve got.”
Teresa was Conservative group leader on the district council and has a strong understanding of the issues which affect local residents: “I think it’s important to listen and focus on those things that everybody says are important. The district is going to change because of all the housebuilding that’s going to come, especially in Harpenden, and I don’t think the Liberal Democrats care enough about what we need, especially in North Harpenden and in Batford which will both be seriously impacted”
She says the Liberal Democrat's decision to introduce on-street parking charges in the town was flawed and ill thought-out, with a lack of appreciation as to how it would affect retailers. It failed to even engage with Harpenden Town Council.
Teresa is passionate about supporting local independent businesses and can meet all her needs by shopping entirely in the Town, except there aren’t any shoe shops!
When she’s not busy campaigning she loves seeing her two grandchildren, soon to be three, travelling, gardening and reading crime thrillers.
