BY-ELECTION NEWS: Chris HOWES for FENLAND District Council

5.20.00pm GMT Wed 10th Feb 2010

Chris Howes for Fenland District Council

Chris's name will be familiar to many residents due to his years of being an active and effective councillor and campaigner for local improvements.

Chris and his family have lived in Chatteris since early 2001. The children attended the former King Edward School and Cromwell Community College.

Soon after arriving in Chatteris, Chris became actively involved in the Chatteris Regeneration Group and for two years was Chairman of the Chatteris Scout Group and led the refurbishment of the Scout Hall.

In 2003 Chris was elected to the Town Council, and his past experience of work as a councillor in St Neots paid dividends. He immediately realised that there were serious problems with the way the District Council was dealing with the 'community benefit' which should be gained from all major developments. As a result of Chris's intervention it soon became apparent that Fenland District Council had failed to to collect over £1million across the District.

Since then over £350,000 has been collected for improvements in Chatteris. Chris chairs the Town Council working party that oversees spending of this 'community benefit' money. In consequence Chatteris has benefited from play equipment having been installed at Larham Way whilst further equipment and shelters have been put in at Huntingdon Road Rec and Wenny Rec, with more improvements to come including dramatic improvements to the skateboard facility and a BMX track for Wenny. And there are major plans for Furrowfield.

And it was Chris Howes who proposed the Chatteris Medieval/Historic Festival and lead the team that delivered the two highly successful 2008 and 2009 festivals,which were visited and enjoyed by thousands of residents.

Chris has a track record of experience, hard work and achievement. No one is better equipped to represent The Mills at Fenland District Council than Chris Howes.