Lib Dem Councillor Will Francis advises that monthly face to face surgeries are coming for Walpole residents soon

I am immensely grateful to have been elected by the people of Walpole ward as one of their new Lib Dem Councillors through your votes cast on 7th May 2026. I am proud to represent them on Ealing Council and to have the responsibility to increase their freedom, security, and opportunity. 

I have wanted to be a councillor for many years, having been inspired by many councillors such as Sam Cumber (London Borough of Sutton) and Natasha Chapman (Lincoln City Council and Lincolnshire County Council) who have positively impacted the lives of local people. Sam through establishing Sutton's Cancer Hub (a landmark life-science campus and cancer research centre) and Natasha through a strong history on fighting for cleaner, greener and safer community with a hands-on approach to getting things done. Their positive impact has inspired me to run for office, especially Natasha's kindness, industriousness, dedication to the common good, and belief in the conviction of ordinary people to do the right thing is what ultimately inspired me. 

In the weeks following the local elections, I have been refocussing my energies working with my Walpole councillor colleagues Councillor Matthew Mellor and Councillor Ksenia Maximova to organise, distribute and action casework. I have made significant strides in getting the basics right, and I have recently researched, resolved and closed my first piece of casework. 

The sense of accomplishment in delivering for residents has filled me with the determination to be a community champion and to continue to assist local people in the upcoming years. We are in the process of setting up a monthly council surgery, where residents can attend in person to discuss their issues with either myself or one of my ward colleagues in Walpole ward. 

As a new councillor, I have been impressed at the depth and scope of the training the council officers have provided me, especially the Planning Committee training, where I am a substitute member (stepping in as required at Planning Committee). During the training, I have also met the strategic directors and have learned more about the challenges the borough faces, including the regeneration of West Ealing high street. 

I have found the council officers to be informative, knowledgeable and kind. They have made me feel welcome as a newly elected councillor. I am at the beginning of this journey and am developing my knowledge and honing tools to serve the people of Walpole to the best of my abilities. 

Residents often email casework to us, and I am looking forward to meeting some of you at the monthly local surgeries addressing your local issues where I can. I will keep you posted on new surgery information for Walpole ward soon.

An opinion piece from Walpole Lib Dem Councillor Will Francis originally published in Ealing News.