I WOULD like to thank the people of Heworth ward for putting their trust in me to be their new councillor. I will represent them with honesty and integrity. This victory says a great deal about the service given to residents by the existing Labour councillors in the ward.

I pay tribute to Ruth Potter and Tina Funnell and am happy to be a part of their team. I look forward to working with them on behalf of all the people of Heworth. I would also like to thank my agent, all my supporters, the returning officer’s staff and everybody who worked so hard to ensure that election day ran so smoothly.

Lastly, I would also like to send my best wishes to those of my opponents who made it a clean and good-humoured contest.

Coun Barbara Boyce, Guildhall, York.


* I CANNOT fault Barbara Boyce on her wish “to be honest, to have integrity, and to always be trustworthy” after being elected as councillor for Heworth, to replace Paul Blanchard.

While Ms Boyce may be celebrating, I would hardly call this appointment a victory with just over a quarter of the Heworth ward bothering to turn out on a fine sunny day, 26.6 per cent to be exact.

This apathy speaks volumes about the electorate of Heworth.

Bob Waite, Holgate, York.


* I WAS astonished and delighted to read that Barbara Boyce, the newly elected councillor for Heworth, claims to be “a politician in a different mould; to be honest and trustworthy”.

Well, we could do with some of those, but for my own part I should be happy if councillors would simply answer my questions. Would she care to do that, or are the fruits of her virtue available only to the electors of Heworth? William Dixon Smith, Welland Rise, Acomb, York.