Contact Us

Officers

Cllr Robert Bright - Chairman

robert.bright@canterbury.gov.uk

Cllr Roger Matthews - Vice-chairman

roger.matthews@canterbury.gov.uk

Peter Bloore - Hon secretary

peterbloore@yahoo.co.uk

Cllr Ken Hando - Hon treasurer

3 The Paddocks, Beltinge, Herne Bay CT6 6QX
01227 363 334
01227 363 334
ken.hando@canterbury.gov.uk

Lisa Bright - Membership secretary

robert.bright@canterbury.gov.uk

Canterbury CC councillors - Greenhill and Eddington

Cllr Margaret Flaherty

Margaret Flaherty is married with four children, one still at school - and has lived in Herne Bay since 1986, having moved from Tankerton. She is a teacher and has worked in special schools for many years. She has been an active member of the Herne Bay Focus team for sixteen years and has stood several times as a Liberal Democrat candidate, receiving widespread support. She has been impressed with all the improvements made to Herne Bay since she moved here. However she continues to be disappointed by the deterioration of the roads and pavements throughout the town - especially the Thorndenwood Road which is a main route from Greenhill to Canterbury. She is saddened by the cut back of funds to the local community groups who do so much good work in Herne Bay, particularly for the elderly. Margaret intends, as an elected councillor for Greenhill and Eddington, to work to improve the local environment.
flaherty@callnetuk.com

Cllr Roger Matthews

Roger Matthews was born in Herne Bay, has lived here all his life and is very passionate about our town. He was first elected to Canterbury City Council for Herne and Broomfield in 1995. In 2003 he was elected to represent the new ward of Greenhill and Eddington after Herne and Broomfield ward was split into two wards. Enjoys working for the people, many of the residents having known him all his life. On Canterbury City Council, Roger was in 2006 elected deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat group. Has served on the Planning Committee for the last eight years and has been Environment spokesman for the Liberal Democrats for the last four. Roger's main council interests are planning, housing, highways and the environment. He spent three years on the Executive of the council where his responsibilities included the environment, leisure and highways. Council officers have said many times that Roger puts his heart into the council and if electorate have a problem he will do his utmost to sort it out. He has spent three years on the executive of the council where his responsibilities included the environment, leisure and highways. Now he describes his main interests as planning, housing, highways, and the environment, flooding and community facilities. Roger is also Chairman of Greenhill Community Centre Group which is currently waiting on the outcome of a £300,000 bid from the Lottery Commission to build a Community Centre, specifically for the Greenhill Residents (including children and senior citizens) He has also obtained a site in Greenhill Road for the Community Centre from a very generous local farmer. Spent nearly ten years as a retained fire-fighter to the rank of leading fire-fighter and have been in business management for many years .
roger.matthews@canterbury.gov.uk

Canterbury CC councillors - Heron

Cllr Robert Bright

Heron
robert.bright@canterbury.gov.uk

Cllr Ron Flaherty

Councillor Ron Flaherty has lived in Herne Bay since 1986 and has represented Heron Ward since 1991. Ron considers his and the Lib/Dem group's greatest achievement during his 15 years representing Heron Ward was the rejuvenation of the town and seafront which had been allowed to decay badly during the 1970's and 1980's. The Lib/Dem administration of the early 1990's began the task of upgrading the seafront gardens; built the Herons Leisure Centre and the cinema complex. Ron led the campaign, through the City Council, to have the bandstand fully refurbished and restored to its former glory. More recently Ron has been successfully campaigning for the restoration of run-down properties on the seafront and in the Conservation area. These properties have mainly been owned by absentee landlords who had simply not spent the rental income on maintenance. They are now required to do so. Ron's priority is to make Herne Bay a pleasant and safe place to live in and visit. He is fully committed to the Campaign to rebuild the Pier. Ron believes the whole Council must now commit itself to this project and have Council Officers draw up urgent financial plans to achieve this from both the Public and Private Sector.
flaherty@callnetuk.com

Cllr Ken Hando

Ken Hando, a retired primary school teacher, was elected to serve as a Liberal Democrat Councillor for Heron Ward in 1995. He wished to serve the townspeople, to help any who had problems particularly with housing. Over the years he has helped many people with their housing problems such as young couples seeking improvements to their sub-standard private accommodation and single parents trying to get on the housing list. He is proud to have helped single parents with growing youngsters move to more suitable accommodation; also those in private flats to get the owners to upgrade them. Has supported many such cases at the Housing Appeals Sub-Committee. Served on the Housing and Environment Committees for several years, before switching to Planning Control and under the new system of local government, to Planning Scrutiny and to the Overview Committee. He is pleased that the council has taken up his proposal that outer doors be installed on the porches of the Victoria Park Flats, and hopes that this will be continued on all council properties. He had been Chair of that Committee previously and is now Chair of the Street Homeless Area Forum. Having been raised in a port, he readily agreed to serve on the Whitstable Harbour Board. Ken has been active on the voluntary scene in Herne Bay, having served as Chair of the Abbeyfield Homes, a member of the Volunteer Bureau Committee, a Governor of Herne Bay Infants School and organiser for NCH Action for Children. He was recently instrumental in raising funds for the Canterbury Women's Refuge. He is a keen walker, who helps to maintain local footpaths. He tries to keep urban footpaths litter free. He made sure that a planned footpath between two private estates came to fruition. He designed an anti-litter poster which appeared on all the town's little bins. He is proud of the record of Lib Dem improvements to Herne Bay (seafront, bandstand, leisure centre) and will work to continue these for all sectors of the committee. He believes that the Rebuilding of Herne Bay Pier is essential to the regeneration of our town, and urges the Council to make this the next priority. He will work for the improvement of the quality of life of all residents of Heron Ward.

ken.hando@canterbury.gov.uk

Webmaster

Richard Wassell

01732 452 684
01732 740 446
richard.wassell@north-thanetlibdems.org.uk