Why did you decide to join Eynsham Parish Council now?
I had intended to join for some time and have been to a few meetings in the past. I finally felt that I have the time to spare and am looking forward to getting involved.
What do you hope to achieve by being a Councillor?
I am hoping to be able to spread the workload by increasing the number of Councillors, as well as making connections with other organisations and projects and using the knowledge and contacts from those groups to help the community.
How was the process of joining/being co-opted?
I discussed the process with a couple of existing Councillors, and the Chair, then sent an application to the Clerk, Michelle, who was very helpful in explaining the procedure. It was a very straightforward process – I was subsequently invited to a meeting and co-opted there.
What has surprised you about being a Councillor – is it what you expected?
Having had discussions with other Councillors, there were no big surprises - everyone is very friendly and supportive. The Council has a lot of issues to work on and working out priorities is challenging, but it is lovely to work with other residents who care about our Parish.
What issues do you care about most?
Climate change and biodiversity are a top priority for me; I am currently working on the CAPZero plan (CAPZero - Low Carbon Hub with GreenTEA and the Low Carbon Hub) as well as the issue of water pollution and nature depletion (with the Nature Recovery Network: Nature Recovery Network |). It can feel very hard to do anything about such overwhelming problems, but I believe that local action can help, as well as connecting us with our environment and community.
I’m also helping to develop an Emergency Plan for the village to help with threats such as flooding, power loss etc. Additionally, as a Governor at Bartholomew School, I would also like to see more opportunities for young people in the village.
How long have you lived in Eynsham?
Twenty-two years – we moved here in 2004. I previously lived in Witney after moving to Oxfordshire to work in scientific publishing. I had driven past Eynsham many times but didn’t visit until we came to look at the house which we eventually bought.
What do you enjoy about Eynsham life?
It is a great place to live, with lots of groups and activities to join, access to nature and green spaces, and good public transport connections. We are lucky to have a library, lovely cafes and pubs and lots of other facilities.
Do you work? If yes, what do you do?
I am a school governance professional, which means that I help governing bodies. It is very satisfying working with other volunteers who care about the life chances of our children and young people.
How do you like to spend your spare time?
I play the violin, and have recently joined a folk fiddle group, I also enjoy wild swimming, reading and going to the cinema and theatre.
Get in touch with Lucy via lucy.dickinson@eynsham-pc.gov.uk