RYEDALE’S new MP, Anne McIntosh, has spelled out her priorities for the rural district after winning the delayed Thirsk and Malton Parliamentary election.

She told the Gazette & Herald that among her priorities will be to press the new Government to:

● Cut red tape for the farming industry

● Help provide more affordable homes

● Give a bigger role and influence to parish councils on planning issues

● Create more youth training opportunities

In addition, Ms McIntosh said that at a local level she wants to see a new livestock market for Malton and to tackle anti-social behaviour in Ryedale’s market towns.

Her new constituency is now the biggest in the country as a result of the merger of the Vale of York and Ryedale.

Ms McIntosh said she was confident a new livestock market would boost Malton’s economy as it had in Thirsk, where a replacement had proved a great success.

Whether the scheme was on the present site or an alternative one, Malton would benefit, she told the Gazette.

She also wants to see problems of anti-social behaviour tackled in Ryedale’s market towns, suggesting that consideration should be given to recreating 2010 versions of the former coffee bars, but with modern facilities which would appeal to the young generation.

However, added Ms McIntosh, they would need to operate until late evening if they were to be effective, she believed.

Another issue she expects to take on board are wind turbines and her fears of more overhead lines to take supplies of electricity to the national grid.

More training for young people needed to be matched with good job opportunities in Ryedale to enable young people to stay in the area rather than have to move away because of the high cost of housing and the shortage of affordable homes.


Tory triumph in delayed poll

THE Conservatives secured a majority of more than 11,000 when the delayed General Election poll in the new Thirsk and Malton division was held last week.

It was only the eighth time in nearly a century that a poll had had to be postponed, after the UKIP candidate, John Boakes, died suddenly.

The new MP, Anne McIntosh, previously the member for the former Vale of York constituency, now also takes in the previous Ryedale division, held for 23 years by fellow Conservative John Greenway.

She polled more than 20,000 votes, ahead of the Liberal Democrat, Howard Keal, who leads his party on Ryedale District Council.

A doctor’s wife, Ms McIntosh has been a Westminster MP for 13 years and was previously an MEP for Essex.

Her new constituency stretches from south of Easingwold towards the A1, to the seaside town of Filey and a string of coastal villages, with an electorate of more than 76,000.

She is due to be sworn in as an MP this week – three weeks after all other members who were elected on May 6.

Already, she has been offered the chairmanship of the House of Commons’ All Party Water Group, because of her involvement in flooding in the Pickering, Helmsley and Filey areas in recent years.

Speaking after the count at Ryedale House, which attracted 50 newspaper, television and radio journalists, Ms McIntosh said the result was less of a verdict on the new Government coalition and more on the former Labour government.

Ms McIntosh paid tribute to Mr Greenway’s 23 years as an MP.

Liberal Democrat Howard Keal said his party had gained the biggest swing – more than five per cent – while the Conservatives’ share of the vote was up only 0.2 per cent, and Labour’s down by 11.6 per cent.

Jonathan Roberts, the Labour candidate, congratulated Ms McIntosh on her success, adding that the high profile given to the poll had enabled Ryedale to be shown off looking its best on TV.

UKIP’s Toby Horton said: “It’s been a very happy campaign in a most lovely constituency. Unfortunately, while UKIP does well in European elections, it fails to do so in those for Westminster.”

John Clark, who is the Liberal leader on Ryedale District Council, said that nearly three quarters of all the votes cast had gone to the two parties in the government. He feared the policies of the coalition would hit pensioners, those on low wages, and the elderly.

* Residents of Scagglethorpe had two voting slips when they went to their polling station – they were also voting to fill a vacancy on the parish council.

Topping the poll was Paul Douthwaite with 58 votes, ahead of Stuart Bogg who polled 43, and Ben Harris with 15, in a 63 per cent turnout.


How they voted

Anne McIntosh (Con) 20,167

Howard Keal (Lib Dem) 8,886

Jonathan Roberts (Lab) 5,169

Toby Horton (UKIP) 2,502

John Clark (Lib) 1,418

Spoilt papers: 73

Turnout: 50.04 per cent (65 per cent in the former two constituencies at the last General Election)38,242 people voted; 9992 used postal votes; there were 155 ballot boxes at 134 stations