Richard Bradshaw is a Parish Councillor in Rufford. He grew up in the small rural settlement of Holmeswood and has returned to West Lancashire where he now lives and works after completing his doctorate at the University of Oxford. Unsurprisingly having grown up in a farming community, Richard is a passionate defender of the West Lancashire countryside and has fought tooth and nail to protect the rural character of his parish from harmful development. He is an unwavering advocate of West Lancashire’s greenbelt, and he would like to see a Local Plan that prioritises the protection of Grade 1 and Grade 2 agricultural land in the borough.

As a Borough Councillor, Richard would strive to deliver on the concrete things that matter to people locally, whether that be ensuring that streets are kept clean or fighting to maintain regular bin collections. In his spare time, he is an active individual with a passion for local history and believes that more can be done to promote West Lancashire’s rich and distinctive heritage. As someone who is independent-minded and community spirited, Richard was proud to stand as Our West Lancashire’s 2026 candidate for the Burscough Bridge and Rufford ward of West Lancashire Borough Council and only narrowly failed to be elected.

Richard can be contacted at cllr.bradshaw@outlook.com or 07899 842516