Pippa Heylings Stands Down as Councillor
Pippa Heylings has stood down today (05 September 2024) as a District Councillor for Histon, Impington and Orchard Park following her successful election as the new MP for South Cambridgeshire. Her two ward colleagues Cllr Martin Cahn and Cllr Sunita Hansraj will continue as District Councillors, championing the people of Histon, Impington and Orchard Park as always. A by-election to fill the vacancy is anticipated to take place in mid-October.
Cllr Martin Cahn (Lib Dem - Histon, Impington and Orchard Park) said: “Pippa has been an amazing councillor for Histon and Impington and a brilliant person to work with. She is both a strong campaigner and someone who listens and learns. Whilst I am sure we will miss her on the council, she will be an incredible force for good in Parliament and we are all behind her every step of the way."
Cllr Sunita Hansraj (Lib Dem - Histon, Impington and Orchard Park) added: “Pippa has been both a friend and mentor to me. Without her persuasive skills I would not have enjoyed the world of politics as much as I have done since being elected as a District Councillor. I admire her knowledge, skill and her sheer determination to work hard for preserving the environment. I am happy that the UK has an MP of Pippa's calibre but very sad she is no longer a fellow District Councillor.”
Pippa has been instrumental in many of the transformations seen at South Cambs, acting as the driving force behind many of the Council’s environmental projects. Joining the Council in 2018 as the Lib Dems swept into administration, Pippa led the way in establishing the Climate and Environment Advisory Committee, which she has chaired since 2018, putting the climate and environment at the heart of everything at South Cambs. This included the pioneering work on the Council’s Zero Carbon Strategy including ambitious 2030 targets for cutting carbon emissions and promoting the adoption of the Doubling Nature Strategy, working to reverse the tide of biodiversity loss across the district.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Bridget Smith (Lib Dem - Gamlingay) said: “It has been an honour to work with someone so clearly dedicated to her residents and to making all of South Cambs a fairer and greener place. Pippa has been one of the most consequential councillors in our district’s history and I’m sure will go on to be one of the most consequential MP’s South Cambs will ever have. Thank you for all your hard work over the last 6 years, Pippa.” South Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats will announce who has been selected to contest the up-coming by-election in the coming days.