New Chesham mayor wants to revive town's high street

Cllr Emily Culverhouse, who was elected in the Chess Valley ward in the Buckinghamshire Council elections, will take on the prestigious role for the next year.

A practicing barrister (crime and data protection), Cllr Culverhouse is also a Chesham town councillor for the Townsend ward and has followed in her great grandfather’s footsteps as a councillor and mayor and her grandfather’s footsteps as a local activist.

Cllr Culverhouse says it is an “honour” to take on the role of mayor and her top priority will be to strengthen the High Street and refresh Chesham’s nighttime economy.

She told the Bucks Free Press: “The high street economy has got to be paramount.

“I would love to see closed shops reopen and a buzzing nighttime economy.

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“We want to do what we can to make that happen. That’s very much a priority for me.”

As mayor, Cllr Culverhouse has pledged to support The Theatre Shed as her mayoral charity, for which she is a patron.

Cllr Culverhouse (right) with deputy mayor Majid Ditta

The Theatre Shed is an inclusive theatre company based in Chesham and was previously known as Shed at The Park.

According to its website, it is “neither ‘mainstream’ nor ‘disability’, our inclusivity offers an inspiring alternative theatre made up of an all-encompassing cross section of the community”.

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Cllr Culverhouse, who previously served as mayor of the town from 2017-18, said she is still “mulling over” what she would like to do for her mayoral event, saying she would like to do something “that makes Chesham smile” when it is safe to do so.

And speaking about why she enjoys her roles as councillor and mayor, she said: “I love swanning around town and meeting people. I like speaking to residents and seeing what everyone is up to, and love getting involved in the community.”

She will serve alongside deputy mayor Majid Ditta.