I was honoured to be elected as the District Councillor for Epping Lindsey and Thornwood Common on May 4.

Thank you to all those who voted for me. I am excited for the challenge of being your councillor for the next four years.

As part of the local Conservative team I will place residents at the heart of everything I do and always work hard to represent the interests of my ward.

One of the biggest issues I heard about during the election campaign was concern about the closure of Epping Sport Centre. I would like to address this as It has come to my attention that Liberal Democrat candidates have implied it is closing. This is not the case.

The centre has just undergone a £1million+ update with improvements to the gym and brand new fitness spaces. I recently visited the centre and it looks fantastic. Many residents have commented on the improvements. This renovation has breathed new life into the centre.

In the long term, it is my understanding that EFDC has aspirations to build another brand new centre with high quality facilities and better parking.

However, decisions are a long way off and it is important to stress that the current centre will remain open until the new centre is completed. as has been the case with the great new sports centre in Waltham Abbey.

Alternative locations in the Epping area are being sought for a future sport centre site.and EFDC will work with Epping Town Council to identify appropriate sites.

I have made my position clear, I understand the importance of sports provision within close accessibility of the town and I personally believe there should be a sports centre in Epping itself.

, as Epping is a growing town with a young and active population. This will be in the Epping Town Council’s Neighbourhood Plan.

I challenge the two Lib Dem councillors to be proactive when addressing this issue and help do what is right for the residents they represent, rather than playing the blame game and riding on a wave of political opportunism.