Local Business & Town Centres

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Local businesses are more than shopfronts. They’re the café where friendships are made, the tradespeople who know your name, the market stalls that give our towns their character. They are the heartbeat of our economy—and the glue of our communities.

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But right now, they’re being squeezed from every direction.

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From the post-COVID recovery to the cost of living crisis, and now policies that feel anti-business and anti-car, too many small and independent businesses are being pushed to the brink. In West Oxfordshire, especially in places like Witney, local businesses have been hindered by policies from Oxfordshire County Council that restrict access, isolate town centres, and make daily trading harder than it needs to be.

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There’s been a short-term obsession with net zero that, while well-intentioned, is being applied in ways that undermine the very businesses we rely on to power our economy and daily lives. Carterton and surrounding areas must not be subjected to the same mistakes. We can’t afford to lose more small businesses to traffic restrictions, rising costs, and shrinking footfall.

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Net zero must never come at the cost of local jobs, enterprise, and economic survival. Climate goals must walk hand in hand with community protection and economic growth—not at their expense.

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I bring 15 years of experience running my own business and social enterprise, and a lifetime of creativity through micro-businesses, freelance work, and side hustles. I know the power business has to transform communities—and I know the stress, sacrifice, and daily grind it takes to keep a business alive. This isn’t abstract for me—it’s personal.

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If we want real economic growth, we must stop talking in slogans and start protecting the businesses we already have.

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A Local Economy That Works for Real People

When businesses thrive, communities thrive.

What I Stand For:

Oxfordshire County Council may not control every lever of economic policy, but it has huge influence through planning, funding, procurement, infrastructure, and community development. I believe in using every tool available to support the people actually creating value on our high streets—our small shop owners, sole traders, and community-driven enterprises.

This means backing local over big-box. It means working with—not against—independent businesses. And it means protecting the identity of our town centres while helping them evolve to meet the future.

Above all, it means adopting a pro-business approach at county level—because businesses are the engine of opportunity, aspiration, and quality of life.

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My Pledges:

1. I will push for stronger investment in local high streets, markets, and town centres to help them remain vibrant, accessible, and community-driven.

2. I will support policies that preserve the unique character of our town centres, resisting overdevelopment that erodes their identity.

3. I will campaign for council support that helps small businesses adapt and thrive—including access to grants, training, and modern infrastructure.

4. I will promote “local-first” procurement policies, encouraging the council and its partners to spend public money with local suppliers wherever possible.

5. I will fight to reduce bureaucracy and simplify council processes for small businesses applying for licences, permits, or support.

6. I will push for improved public transport and parking access around town centres and local commerce zones—so customers and businesses alike can rely on practical access.

7. I will work to protect and promote local markets and enterprise zones, giving startups and community businesses space to grow.

8. I will support business mentoring, skills development, and training hubs that help local traders upskill, modernise, and stay competitive.

9. I will fight for investment in Carterton’s commercial spaces and support Brize Norton’s local economy, ensuring both remain connected, thriving, and future-ready.

10. I will stand against the short-sighted, anti-car ideology that’s harming local commerce, and push for a business-first balance in policy decisions.

11. I will speak from experience, as someone who’s built, sustained, and supported businesses first-hand—not just studied them in reports.