Jemima Bland

http://www.libdems.org.uk/jemima_bland

Jemima Bland
East Worthing and Shoreham

Since her selection as candidate in April 2013, Jemima has led a number of high profile local campaigns, including petitions against drastic and sudden cuts to local policing services, supporting the introduction of 2 hours free parking for Adur residents in our local shopping centers, and in favour of protecting Shoreham airfield as a community asset.

Most recently, Jemima founded the community organisation Friends of Shoreham Airfield, in order to give a wide range of residents associations and community groups a say in the future of the site. The famous airfield was used in both World Wars, and was the site of the activities of the ‘marvellous men and their flying machines’, Britain’s first pilots.

Jemima continues to campaign for much-needed investment in the A27 and surrounding roads, in conjunction with Lib Dem colleagues in the South East including Stephen Lloyd, MP for Eastbourne.

‘After facing years of Tory neglect, voters in Adur and Worthing are now working together for positive change,’ she said.

Jemima also works to achieve high quality local job creation, and maintains an active dialogue with leading local businesses such as Shoreham Port and Ricardo’s Engineering. She is also working on plans to help re-establish Shoreham’s youth centre, and work to ensure better facilities for young people across Adur and Worthing.

Central to her campaigning objectives in the constituency is the protection of existing homes from flooding. Much of the area is a flood plain for the Adur river and South Downs, and water levels are rising every year as developers rush to build on the few remaining green spaces of the lucrative South East. Jemima maintains while more housing is required, it cannot be built at the cost of flooding existing homes and businesses, and over stretching existing roads.

Outside community politics, Jemima worked for Shell International in several commercial roles. Living and working in Paris, London and Rotterdam, she has led teams and managed contracts on major projects. She has also previously stood for election as a council candidate in Battersea, London.

Jemima has a Master's degree in Middle Eastern Politics and Languages from the School of African and Oriental Studies, London University, and a Bachelors degree in Modern Languages from Oxford University.