Category: Parish Council in Uttlesford

Cllr Judy Emanuel

Judy is a Newport District and Parish councillor who is very involved in her community. As part of her work as a parish councillor she’s successfully defended against speculative developments at appeal, and helped develop the adopted Newport, Quendon and Rickling Neighbourhood Plan.

“It’s critical that the voices of residents play a key role in shaping our communities. I’m passionate about planning – particularly delivering improved infrastructure for our district alongside new housing. I am diligent about detail and continuously seek to improve our council processes to do the best we possibly can for our district.” Judy Emanuel

Judy Emanuel has a degree in Industrial Information Technology. Her career background is in IT consultancy/project management in financial services. Judy has been a parish councillor since 2015 and a district councillor since 2021 where she serves on the planning and appointment committees.

She lives in Newport with her family.

WardAbout/BioContact

Judy Emanuel has a degree in Industrial Information Technology. Her career spans from IT start-ups, recruitment, IT consultancy to financial services – and she is also an event florist in her spare time. She lives with her family in Newport where she’s very involved in the community. She’s been an active member of the Friends of Newport Primary School for 10 years, and was previously chair of the charity. She’s also a member of the Newport Parents Association of Joyce Frankland Academy.

Judy serves on the Parish Council and Uttlesford District Council. She says she joined R4U and became a councillor because of a deep concern over the volume of speculative housing development in the area with no infrastructure to support it. Over the past five years on the council she’s tracked and documented the scale of development in the area and been responsible for drafting planning application responses.  She’s represented residents at planning appeals, where as part of a team she’s successfully prevented more than 200 unsustainable houses in Newport. She’s also lobbied to mitigate the impact of any development that has happened.

Judy has been a key member of the team responsible for the delivery of the Newport, Quendon and Rickling Neighbourhood Plan and has supported the parish council with online communications.

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    Cllr Bianca Donald

    Bianca has taught in Uttlesford schools since 2004 and knows many local parents. As an Elsenham parish councillor, she serves on the New Village Hall and playground refurbishment committees. She’s an avid grassroots sports participant, previously netball and now rounders. She was elected to Uttlesford District Council in 2023.

    “In over 20 years teaching, I have taught many of the children in the local area. Our councils need to work hard to provide facilities and jobs to keep young people here or attract them back when they start work.” – Bianca Donald

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    Bianca cares about our next generation. She has taught in Uttlesford schools since 2004 both in Stansted and Hatfield Broad Oak. During Covid she has been providing online tutoring in mathematics. She understands parents’ frustration as education budgets have been slashed and school choice eradicated by Essex County Council.

    “In over 20 years teaching, I have taught many Stansted area children. I’ve seen how for decades the government’s education strategy has been failing our youth and community. We need a strong voice for Uttlesford youth issues.” – Bianca Donald

    Bianca coaches grassroots women’s sports. For several years she served on the committee of the Bishops Stortford District Netball League. She currently plays for, manages and coaches a local team. She loves the countryside and feels we must be ‘careful custodians of our environment’ and feels through R4U she can make Uttlesford a place that cares for its residents, local environment and businesses.

    She is a parish and district councillor.

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      Cllr Neil Reeve

      Neil Reeve is an experienced Chartered Engineer with 40+ years’ experience. He was previously the chair of an energy industry division of ISO, the international standard-setting organisation. He is a councillor at High Easter Parish Council. At Uttlesford District Council he is currently Portfolio Holder for the Economy, Investment and Corporate Plan. In his spare time he volunteers for nature conservancy causes.

      “It’s very straightforward. We need a second term to finish the job at UDC. As a Ward Member for Broad Oak and the Hallingburys, I’ve really valued working with the four parish councils, and my colleague Geof Driscoll. I feel that we are helping the community and making a difference. I remain frustrated by the Westminster driven parties. We have found a lot wrong with what we inherited at UDC. We are putting a lot right, but there is still much to do. It’s very important that residents are listened to. We do that. We need local residents’ views, local decisions, and more local infrastructure” Neil Reeve

      WardAbout/BioContact

      Where you live and how long you’ve lived in the area?

      My wife and I have had a home in Uttlesford for more than 20 years. After my retirement in 2012 I became increasingly involved in village, parish and local issues. Prior to this we lived and worked all over the world, including Malaysia, South Korea, Denmark, New Zealand and The Netherlands.

      Our three children each have their own families (giving us 5 grandchildren in total) and lead diverse lives. One lives in Kent and works for Kent County Council. One lives in Holland and works in the University of Utrecht Library. One is currently working for Oxfam in Myanmar.

      Any councillor or political experience you may have?

      I’ve been a UDC councillor for the Broad Oak and the Hallingburys ward since 2019 and at UDC I lead the Economy, Business, Council Strategy and Investments portfolios. I am also a member of the High Easter Parish Council.

      Any work details that you may want to highlight that add to your experience?

      I am a Chartered Engineer with approximately 40 years of international experience. I worked with Royal Dutch Shell until I retired from them in 2012. For the first third of my career I worked as a Structural Engineer designing, building and maintaining offshore platforms. Thereafter I developed Shell’s system of specifications and standards for all their operations worldwide. In this capacity, I became chair of the committee in an International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) responsible for international standards the oil and gas industry. I maintained this role till mid-2019. I have learned how to listen to very diverse groups and lead the parties to an agreement (a consensus standard).

      Are you involved in any community or residents’ groups, boards, charities, or volunteering?

      I’m a director, trustee and treasurer of the East of England Apples and Orchards Project (EEAOP). This is a charity, with a trading arm (i.e. under Charities Commission and Companies House), whose aim is the collect and conserve the region’s heritage fruit trees; and get these (re-)planted throughout the region.

      I am also a treasurer, and committee member of the Essex Beekeepers Association (EBKA) (Braintree Division).

      Why did you stand for Residents for Uttlesford?

      I was impressed that in a short time Residents for Uttlesford had already made an impact for our district. In 4 years of leading UDC, we’ve made significant improvements for residents. We need 4 more years to finish the job.

      The key point is that R4U is a party for local issues, not national ones. It can therefore be more agile to steer the district council in a direction that residents in the Uttlesford want, rather than as directed by a Westminster-based party.

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        Cllr Sandi Merifield

        Sandi Merifield is very active in Stebbing, has served on Stebbing Parish Council for over 15 years, and is an experienced former district councillor. She has helped organise Stebbing Fete for many years and is the local coordinator of the Poppy Appeal Collection.

        “I believe in listening to and working with the community, fighting for the rights of residents and aiming to find the balance between protecting our communities and enhancing our children’s future.” Sandi Merifield

        WardAbout/BioContact

        Sandi says:

        I live in Stebbing with my husband, our two dogs and cat. We moved here nearly 29 years ago with our three children and have counted ourselves very lucky ever since to live in this Ward in Uttlesford and be part of this community.

        I have served on Stebbing Parish Council for over 15 years including on most of its committees, chairing and member, the most recent Greener Stebbing which is a new committee. This has and continues to be a most rewarding and enlightening experience. Helping greatly with my understanding of the needs of residents. I was an Uttlesford District Councillor for 4 years, where I chaired the Planning Committee.

        I coordinate the Poppy Appeal Collection annually in Stebbing and have been a member of the Stebbing Fete organising committee for many years Having had a career in Education in both secondary schools and colleges I became a governor at a local Nursery & Primary school.

        I believe in listening and working with the community, fighting for the rights of residents, and aiming to find the balance between protecting our communities and enhancing our children’s future.

        I have long believed that National party politics should not play a part in local democracy. Local issues need to be addressed by a locally focussed party that understands and supports local interests. I believe that R4U is, by reorganising how UDC is structured and using the best skills available. By working together with our communities, we will achieve this.

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