Sonia Barker

I am a Town Councillor for the Elmtree Ward of Lowestoft; where I have lived and worked as a NHS advocate and high school teacher for over 40 years.

Married to Rod for the last 30 years; we have a daughter who has recently returned to Lowestoft with her partner.

History, heritage, and the arts (especially theatre and live music) are my passions and I will use my enthusiasm and past experience as a former District and County Councillor to support those aspects of the Town Council’s work to promote Lowestoft’s cultural offer such as the iconic Marina Theatre. Our beautiful beach where the sun rises first across the UK should rightly be celebrated; as a beach hut user I believe that Lowestoft needs to be  promoted far more as a tourism destination. As one of the core team members who created the Lowestoft Seafront Festival, which ran successfully from 2016-2019, and having previously been a volunteer at the highly successful `First Light Festival’, I will support its return in 2022.

The Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Carlton Marshes, where I am a volunteer, is a good example of how through team effort and investment an inspiring outcome can be achieved for the good of the environment and the community. This is the type of partnership that Lowestoft needs to thrive.

I  feel that it is so important that the Town Council looks to the future, engages with young people and their interests, as well as looking to the past to enable a lasting and active legacy to be created within our town.

You can contact me via my Town Council email if you have any suggestions you may have to make the town thrive and/or to be considered by the Council.