Politics clearly runs in the family in the Goreham household in Dereham.For having grown up with his parents Robin and Linda being heavily involved in local government, 19-year-old Tom Goreham is now hoping to follow in their footsteps.

By EMMAKNIGHTS

emma.knights@archant.co.uk

Politics clearly runs in the family in the Goreham household in Dereham.

For having grown up with his parents Robin and Linda being heavily involved in local government, 19-year-old Tom Goreham is now hoping to follow in their footsteps.

He has been selected by the Dereham and District Labour Party to contest the Dereham North seat in the Norfolk County Council elections in June.

Tom is one of the youngest ever candidates in Norfolk and, if successful, he could become the youngest Norfolk county councillor in history.

Tom said: "As a younger person I will attempt to bring a fresh approach to local politics and I pledge to work hard to provide a voice for the people of Dereham and Scarning, should I be elected.

"I am delighted and really excited about the whole opportunity. It will be a challenge but I will certainly give it a good go. I have always wanted to stand for the town. I think it would be an honour."

Tom said if he is elected he would like to campaign for more facilities for young people and for a student travel card for 16 to 19-year-olds.

He also wants to campaign for a new waste recycling centre for Dereham and Scarning, the retention of green open spaces, a bus interchange solution for Dereham town centre, and an improved traffic flow system through Dereham.

Encouraging people to shop locally and support Dereham's shops and business would also be high up on his priorities.

Tom's parents have given a total of 23 years of service to Dereham as local councillors.

Robin has been a Labour town and Breckland district councillor since 1995 and mayor of Dereham in 1999 and 2003.

In the coming county council elections he will be defending the Dereham South seat which he has represented for the last four years.

Tom's mum Linda will also be contesting the Elmham and Mattishall county seat in June. She was previously a town councillor for Dereham from 1998 to 2007 and a Breckland councillor from 1999 to 2007.

Linda said: "We are so proud of Tom because he is so determined. Through us he knows what being a councillor involves."

Robin added: "Tom knows there are times where you feel you have achieved something and other times when you feel you are hitting you head against a brick wall. He knows he will have to get his head down and graft. He realises there are no easy solutions and whatever you try to achieve you have to work for."

In November last year it was also reported that 19-year-old Tom Garrod had been selected as the Conservative candidate for Yarmouth North and Central division in the June 4 county council elections.

At the moment the youngest person ever to have been an elected member of Norfolk County Council is Joseph Larter. He was elected aged 23 in 1964 representing the West Flegg division, but only stayed on the council for two years.

The next youngest is Michael Carttiss who was elected in 1966 aged 27 and is still on the council to this day representing West Flegg.