Matthew Holland is Pompey born and bred, having lived in the same house in Cosham all his life. He attended Court Lane and Springfield Schools before going to university along with his two older brothers. They were the first generation in his family to study at university.
Matthew says, ‘Growing up just above the breadline shapes you. Having the good fortune to attend a top university made me absolutely determined to ensure that as many people as possible from my background can have the same opportunities to succeed.
I want to see Portsmouth become the clean, green and friendly place that I know it can be’.
Having grown up in Portsmouth, Matthew has seen a sad decline in the city. In his area he has seen rising levels of litter, fly-tipping and antisocial behaviour, alongside a breakdown in the community spirit.
‘I am keen to see a return to that community spirit locally with Portsmouth being a place where neighbours look out for one another in tough times and take pride in their neighbourhood.’
As a keen cyclist and angler, Matthew is concerned about the two issues of water and air pollution across Portsmouth. He believes the worsening conditions on our beaches and in our harbours is a betrayal of our identity as a waterfront, island city. Matthew is particularly concerned about the clogging of Portsmouth’s roads and the damaging effects on children growing up in areas with poor air quality. This affects both the health of young people and limits their access to active, healthy transport. Tackling these issues is a personal challenge for Matthew, helping to achieve the vision of a greener and healthier city.