Name Phil Goodier

Where do you live (roughly) in the village?

Just outside the village – the white house before the railway bridge on the way to Ripon. So only just inside the Parish boundary!

Tell us about your immediate family

I’m married to Georgina who is probably better known than me as she grew up in Bishop Monkton. I came to the village in 1998 when I bought one of the then new houses in Renton Close. We have three adult children who grew up in the village. I’m an adopted Yorkshireman, having grown up in the Manchester area – I have been a season ticket holder at Man City since I was ten. I’m a keen runner and cyclist and love the outdoors.

What is your professional background?

I trained as an engineer but I always say I would be dangerous practising engineering now! But I’m still very practical and have a strong interest in sustainability and the built environment. I spent most of my career leading manufacturing businesses in the chemicals and automotive industries. My final job before semi-retirement a year ago was leading Biffa Polymers, the UK’s largest recycler of plastics – it’s where our kerbside recycling ends up - where your old milk bottles get turned into new ones. I work part time as a business consultant and chair two technology companies, one of which is a spin out from the University of Leeds.

What particular skills and experience do you bring to the PC?

As I mention above, I am practical and understand engineering and construction pretty well. I am very data-driven, and will always look to follow facts where they exist, not just opinions. I also have a good understanding of financial and legal matters from my business career.

Are there particular issues/matters you want to concentrate on?

The Parish Council is about far more than building development issues! I think we can do more to improve our environment, road safety and surroundings and hope I can concentrate on these issues. It may be controversial, but I am in favour of appropriate development. New houses bring new life and hopefully younger people to our village. In the last fifteen years we have lost one pub, a shop, our cricket teams, our football team and our entertainments group. These were at the heart of our village life when I moved here and for some time afterwards – and I for one miss them. I benefited from the Renton Close development which enabled me to move to Bishop Monkton. It’s great to see how involved the new residents of Harvest View are in village life already.

What do you hope that the PC can achieve for the village?

It’s all about taking a beautiful place and making it better by addressing the concerns of residents and adopting best practice from elsewhere. And having fun doing it!

You can contact Phil, who is also set to become the new Chair of the Village Hall Committee next month, via email