Lib Dems chose local councillor to fight the next General Election

11.25.45am GMT Thu 23rd Dec 2004

DISTRICT councillor Michael Heavens has been chosen as the Liberal Democrats' prospective parliamentary candidate for Epping Forest at the next general election.

Cllr Heavens contested the seat in 2001, when the Liberal Democrats were the only party to increase its vote over 1997.

A long-time member of Epping Forest District Council, he has been chairman and leader and is the current housing portfolio holder.

He was a National Health Service GP in Chigwell for 30 years.

His special interest in mental health was shown by his work with the elderly at Claybury Hospital and as a liaison psychiatrist at Whipps Cross Hospital. Subsequently, he retrained as a psychotherapist, left the NHS and ran an independent practice.

Cllr Heavens is chairman of the trustees of the Chigwell Riding Trust for Special Needs, has been a trustee of other local charities and served on the national council of the British Confederation of Psychotherapists.

He said: "I'm delighted that I have been reselected. My experience as a councillor means that I probably have a greater knowledge of the constituency, and of the difficulties that face many of its residents, than any other candidate.

"I am looking forward to fighting an energetic campaign and hope to raise the Liberal Democrat presence in Epping Forest to its proper place."