Roads and Transport

With first-hand experience of our local roads, Tom is passionate about addressing the issues from anti-social driving to potholes across the area.  Tom is chair of the South Downs Safer Roads working group and will continue to work hard to tackle speeding and noise related issues experienced across the division. He will continue to work with the police and other agencies to deal with the issues. Tom will also work to protect and improve the rural public transport links.

Rural Crime 

Many associate rural crime as something that only effects farms – in fact it affects everyone living in rural areas and includes everything from drugs, domestic abuse and burglary to livestock worrying and fly tipping. Tom believes that those such as farmers working to keep land clear of fly tipping should not have to pay the costs associated with disposal of the waste at the recycling centres and will campaign to get these costs waived. Tom will work with the authorities to tackle all aspects of rural crime and issues surrounding police patrols and response times.

Protecting and Promoting the High Street

After a particularly challenging time due to repeated, long periods of closure, now more than ever our high streets and local independent businesses need our support.  Working with schemes such as The Great Sussex Way and local business associations, Tom is passionate about helping and promoting our wonderful local independent businesses. Supporting and promoting tourism to enjoy our beautiful countryside is increasingly important to support our local economy. From fresh local produce and local crafts to fine dining and the good old fashioned British pub, every local business is important to us all in one way or another.

Originally from Surrey, I moved to West Sussex in 2016 and live in the rural village of Selham where I am the landlord of the village pub, The Three Moles. I am an elected parish councillor for the parish of Lodsworth and was previously also a parish councillor for the parish of Graffham. 

Prior to becoming a publican, I served for 15 years with the police service mostly as a specialist roads policing officer where I dealt with a huge variety of incidents. I spent many years, from the age of 18, as a volunteer within the Scout Association where I most recently held a commissioner’s post, responsible for things such as adult training, child protection, health and safety and much more. 

Being a Publican and Parish Councillor, I am already very much part of my local community.  As a County Councillor, I would very much like to continue to build on my successes with the Safer Roads working group as this is such a key issue across a large part of West Sussex and beyond. My expertise, knowledge and experience from within the police service has allowed me to get things done that previously, others were being ‘fobbed off’ with excuses. I can achieve this by continuing to work with the different councils and the support of our MPs. I am always open minded, friendly and approachable and often talk to local parishioners about local issues as they can walk into the pub and speak to me without any barriers. I very much believe in the hands-on approach and am committed to making a full and constructive contribution to support the local communities.

I am currently the chair of the South Downs Safer Roads working group set up to bring all levels of local government, our MPs and the police together to tackle issues with a joined up approach. We have had fantastic results already and continue to work together to resolve the problems which are an area of great concern for the local communities who have to deal with the noise and speed from the few anti-social drivers and riders. 

I have recently worked with Andrew Griffith and his team providing advice

in relation to a bill that he very recently put before Parliament for changes to penalties for certain road traffic offences.

If you would like to raise an issue of concern, or help my campaign, please contact me:

Telephone me on:  07932 865154 or email me at: tom.richardson@live.co.uk

 www.facebook.com/RotherValleyWSX