Around Newnham (Julie Smith)

Around Newnham

Julie has been City Councillor for Newnham since 2003, most recently being re-elected in May 2011. She became Chair of the West-Central Area Committee of the City Council in June 2011.

She is Chair of the Newnham Lib Dem Branch. Over the years she has worked with the Lib Dem team in Newnham to tackle transport and highways issues. She led the campaign to preserve the already limited 199 'shoppers' bus' in 2006/07 and again helped fight to save this vital lifeline for residents in 2011 - granted a temporary reprieve, the bus's future is not yet certain, so we will keep fighting for it. She also worked with a colleague from Queen Edith's to support the Uni 4 bus, when its future

Julie campaigning to support local bus service

On the 199 bus

seemed under threat.

After over a year of lobbying with her fellow Newnham councillors, Julie is delighted that the cycle path on Grange Road has finally been resurfaced. Years of lobbying the County Council led to major improvements to the pavements in Sidgwick Avenue, where tree roots have caused all sorts of problems for people with wheelchairs and buggies, although more work is still required.

Julie is a Fellow in Politics at Robinson College. She also served as Director of Studies and Graduate Tutor and was a member of the College Council and Finance Committee, prior to sabbatical leave in 2011/2012. She was previously Director of Studies at Newnham College (and very briefly at Selwyn College, covering sabbatical leave for a colleague).

Julie was a governor at Newnham Croft Primary School for five years until 2006. She served at various times as a member of the Personnel and Finance Committee, Chair of the Curriculum Committee and Vice-Chair of Governors. Of her time as Governor, Julie says, "Being a Governor was an interesting and very rewarding experience which ensured that I gained crucial insights into primary education in the 21st Century. Early years and primary education are the most important building blocks in a child's academic development and I was privileged to be involved with our local school for several years. Newnham Croft is a fantastic school that does extremely well by its very international intake of students."