Stephen Philpott lives in Peel Common at 108 Long Drive with his wife, Jan. He keeps residents informed about what is happening through regular In Touch newsletters. He is someone residents can rely upon and who won’t disappear when the voting is over!
For over twenty years Stephen Philpott has had the privilege to represent Peel Common and Rowner on the Borough Council. When he was first elected he promised to represent everyone in Peel Common regardless of their political allegiance. He has always done his best to live up to that promise.
Stephen joined the Conservative Party at the age of 16 and became Chairman of the local Young Conservatives in 1981. He has also held various positions in the local Conservative Association, including Chairman between 2002 and 2004.
Stephen has twice been Chairman of the Council's Housing Committee: back in 1998 and, more recently, in 2009. Between 2010 and the elections in 2022, he also served as Chairman of the Regulatory Committee and the Economic Development Board. On 15th July 2024 Stephen was elected as Leader of the Conservative Group on Gosport Borough Council.
Outside of politics, Stephen is a dedicated sports fan - especially cricket. He has been a long-standing member of Hampshire County Cricket Club and, when he can tear himself away from the town hall, can be found on a summer's afternoon sitting on the boundary at The Rose Bowl with a cold beer in hand. He follows Portsmouth FC and is a regular visitor to Privett Park to watch local team Gosport Borough.
Stephen was elected to Hampshire County Council in 2017 to represent the Bridgemary Division and was re-elected in 2021.
Stephen has been at the forefront of promoting major infrastructure investment in his county division, including the Bus Rapid Transit busway extension to Rowner Road for which he played a pivotal role in persuading Hampshire County Council to reverse their decision to demolish the bridge on Rowner Road. A £1.7 million safety scheme at the Wych Lane/Fareham Road junction was delivered in 2022 and a £7.8 million investment in Grange School the same year.
In his role as Peel Common Ward councillor and as Bridgemary's county councillor, Stephen Philpott led the fight against major housing development in the Strategic Gap. He represented residents at the three appeal hearings - the only Gosport councillor to do so. The developers lost two out of the three appeals.
Stephen guarantees that he will remain visible, and accessible and work as hard as he can to ensure that Peel Common remains a place where we are all happy to live.
