Edward Dawson was first elected to Yateley Town Council in 1983. He founded the Yateley Society in 1981, was its Chairman for 3 years and later President for 10 years. He then helped to found Sane Planning in the South East (SPISE) in 1986, and is currently a Vice President. He served as Chairman of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) in Hart district and was later Chairman of CPRE Hampshire for 6 years.

Edward is Regional Director of CPRE South East and takes a special interest in Regional Planning, as well as Housing and the development of sustainable communities. He is also concerned with rural settlement issues and with the countryside management. He advises a number of MPs on planning and related issues. He has chaired the Town Centre Management Group in Yateley, and has been a Board member of Sentinel Housing Group.

Edward has lived in Yateley since 1979, and has four children, Aubrey, Caroline, Justine and Philippa. He has been involved with the review of the local Conservation Areas, and with promoting the recent Residents Association for Yateley. He is a member of the South East Heritage Environment Forum, which is run by English Heritage.