Richard is standing for Tiverton West for the first time following the retirement of Polly Colthorpe who has represented Tiverton West for the last twelve years. He has lived close to Tiverton for the last 20 years with his family including his two sons. For the last fourteen years he has been elected on to Mid Devon District Council, he has spent ten years as a Mid Devon Cabinet Member with responsibility for Planning and Economic Regeneration and four years as Deputy Leader.
Richard studied Agriculture and Land Management at university and has worked in agronomy and property, including running his own property search business. As a councillor on Mid Devon he has been actively involved in issues within his own ward as well as throughout the distict via his Cabinet role. He has worked closely with Devon County members and officers on a number of projects, including sucessful funding bids for a new junction for Tiverton on the A361 and a relief road for Cullompton, securing £18M in total. He has also sat as a district member on Devon County's Highway and Traffic Order Committee, so gained a good understanding of the types of highway issues that were of concern to residents in Tiverton West.