ELECTIONS: Candidates canvass for your vote as Ryedale goes to the polls

Along with many long-standing councillors, a number of new faces have thrown their hats into the ring for the district battle.

The elections, which will be held on Thursday, May 2, are a chance to vote on the make up of Ryedale District Council, which is in charge of services including recycling and waste, leisure services, planning applications, housing support, environmental health and benefits.

Candidates from all the main parties are represented including the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Liberals, Green Party, along with a number of Independents and the new Ryedale First group.

Ryedale already has its first three district councillors after they were automatically elected to uncontested seats. Nathan Garbutt Moore won the Rillington ward, Caroline Goodrick won the Ryedale South West ward, and Tracie Middleton won the Wolds ward. The three councillors all represent the Conservative party.

The verification of ballot papers and counting of the votes will take place at Malton Community Sports Centre, in Broughton Road on Friday, May 3, Polling stations are located at various village halls and community centres across Ryedale.

CONSERVATIVES

ACROSS Ryedale, a new generation of candidates are standing as Conservatives this time. We are aged from our 20s to 70s, and come from an array of backgrounds: farmers, teachers, ex-forces personnel, pub landlords, engineers, a chimney sweep and even a part-time panto dame. Each and every one of us brings different ideas and experiences to the table. We hope to use this to ensure your views are represented and move Ryedale forward into the future. Our proposals are pretty radical: massive investment in infrastructure; a new team of ‘street rangers’; and perhaps most radical of all, we’re looking to create just one council covering Ryedale, rather than two. We are the only party fielding enough candidates to achieve a majority on the council, and therefore the only party who can actually deliver on our promises. This time, vote for a fresh team hoping to build a fresh start for Ryedale.

GREEN PARTY

THE Green Party is a comparatively new force in Ryedale elections. The Green Party has always been against fracking and for taking the necessary steps to avert climate catastrophe, including further insulation and energy efficiency measures and more local renewable energy, creating more local jobs. It supports local sustainable agriculture and respects animals and wild places. However, it is not solely concerned with the environment, having a range of policies on all relevant issues. Green candidates in Ryedale, some with current town and parish council experience, support small local businesses and sustainable enterprises and strongly back retaining local services close to where they are needed – public transport, housing services, libraries, sporting and leisure facilities. They would encourage cycling and walking as forms of transport. In relation to waste they strongly support reducing, re-using and recycling. They would seek to reduce inequality and keep council tax affordable.

LABOUR

LABOUR is fielding a strong team and has published a manifesto of our programme for reform once we have elected Labour Party councillors. There are whole areas where we feel the present council has let people down, be it in housing, transport or fracking. With a Labour Party presence on the council we can begin to address these issues. The main manifesto points include:

• Challenging this austerity-led and cut-driven Tory council;
• Campaigning for more affordable housing. This council has failed to meet even its own targets;
• Calling for clean streets;
• Taking recycling seriously. Raise the recycling rate; provide boxes that work;
• Give villages control over development through community-led plans;
• Demand better public transport links to villages. Consider those who do not drive;
• At every opportunity and in every way resist fracking.

Labour is set to bring a sustained and positive challenge.

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

TACKLING traffic congestion, pollution and plastics are being put right at the top of the agenda by Liberal Democrats in Ryedale.

Your Liberal Democrat candidates are determined to listen to you and make your voice heard in making the district council fit for the 21st century.

We fight for you - for better recycling, flood defences, library and sports provision, and are at the forefront in opposing fracking.

Let’s demand better local services and safer communities, reducing speeding through our towns and villages, as well as pressing for more cycle and pathways.

Liberal Democrats will fight the culture of cuts that is seeing the district council stash away your money while it starves services.

Let’s make Ryedale a forward-thinking council, with more recycling, better air quality and protection of the environment.

Vote Liberal Democrat for candidates who are in your corner - and take a breath of fresh air.

RYEDALE FIRST INDEPENDENT GROUP

RYEDALE First is an Independent, non-political group formed with the aim of providing common sense decision making on Ryedale District Council, driven by the wishes of our residents. In our group we have seven serving councillors and four members who are new to being councillors – so we provide a range of experience and fresh ideas.

Our aim is always to make decisions that will benefit the people of Ryedale. We will be supporting businesses and job creation in Ryedale, as well as the provision of a range of housing to suit the needs of our community. Financial cuts to local authorities mean that every penny counts – we have to get the very best value from the money we spend to provide services for you – the services that you want and need. Our group are passionate about protecting the countryside we live in.

LIBERALS

THE Liberals are the challenge to the Tories and Independents on Ryedale District Council. Examples:

• Opposed a supermarket on Wentworth Street Car Park. It was not stopped until they had squandered over £1/2 million;
• Opposed the waste of another £1/2million on consultants;
• This resulted in a cut back of essential services; environmental health officers, dog warden and a shortage of planning enforcement.

Liberals proposed a “Climate Change Policy” – it was massively supported. In the same meeting Tories voted to not consider an electric/hydrogen recycling vehicle. The Tories claim to keep the council tax down, yet charge £38 for recycling garden waste - equivalent to a 25 per cent increase in council tax. Liberal candidates make only three promises:

1) To work hard;

2) To be honest;

3) To ask the awkward questions.

If you want a strong challenge to the Tory council please support your local Liberal candidates.

INDEPENDENTS

Paul Andrews (Malton)

I have represented Malton since 2003 and am a trustee of the Milton Rooms.

I campaigned for the sports centre at Malton School and against a superstore on Wentworth Street car park, and other local issues.

With the help of Frackfree, I raised £30,000 for legal action against the government’s fracking plans and legal representation at the public examination of the County Minerals Plan. Five years ago Conservative controlled Ryedale decided to overdevelop Malton/Norton. The result is Malton’s traffic nightmare. I’m fighting to get the plan changed so as to ensure country areas take their fair share of new development.

Lindsay Burr (Malton)

Lindsay is a successful businesswoman, who is passionate about good education for all. Lindsay has a wealth of experience in local politics and has represented residents for 20 years. She has been a county councillor for six years. Lindsay is truly immersed in the community, not shy of hard work or going against the odds to speak up and represent her electorate’s views. Lindsay has led many successful campaigns, including opposing the sale of Wentworth street car park, providing a sports centre, Brambling Fields improvement, flood defences, speed/safety improvements, saved the bowling club and Malton Hospital’s minor injury unit from closure.

Charles Hopkinson (Pickering East)

Charles was born in Ryedale, and runs the Steam and Moorland Garden Centre at Pickering. Charles is Independent; against fracking in Ryedale; wishes to modernise Ryedale and its district council, and build a strong, healthy, prosperous and sustainable community through support for Farming, Manufacturing and tourism, employment for all in Ryedale, good access to services, and making local government accountable. Vote for Charles with one of your two votes in Pickering East. Vote for change.

Angela Kirkham-Raine (Malton)

Angela has been teaching in Malton for over 48 years. Angela really wants Malton to continue to thrive and will do all she can to ensure this. Angela is committed to making a difference. Angela supports initiatives to help the rural economy, will work all-year round, not just at elections, and ensure Malton is at the front of environmental issues. Angela is committed to keeping politics out of local government and believes councillors should work purely to represent the best interests of the community. Angela will bring a fresh voice to RDC and is passionate about making a difference.

Simon Thackray (Sinnington)

I was hand-reared on a farm in Ryedale when kale was still eaten by sheep. I can drive a tractor and organise a gig. I will use my skills as your representative to stop the squander of £3.1 million of your money on a new livestock market for the benefit of a few, and work, instead, to build opportunities for our young people. Ryedale District Council is a puppet show run by its senior officers who are insufficiently challenged by councillors. I will wrestle the wheel from their grip and steer us down a new, creative road.