Harrogate borough councillor Matt Scott has been chosen as the Conservative candidate for the vacant Harrogate Bilton and Nidd Gorge seat on North Yorkshire County Council.
A by-election is taking place following the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Geoff Webber.
Cllr Scott has represented the Bilton Woodfield ward on Harrogate Borough Council since 2018 and works in Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones’ office. He has lived in Bilton all his life.
He said:
“I am proud to call Bilton my home and there are many aspects of the area that make it a great place to live.
“We are served by many small independent businesses; we have great schools and of course we have the Nidd Gorge, a vast green space on our doorstep.
“I was part of the campaign to save it when proposals came forward for a relief road and my view has not changed.”
He said he wanted to be a “strong, local voice” on the county council, alongside fellow Conservative Paul Haslam, who also lives in Bilton and sits on both the borough and county councils.
He added:
“I will work hard to ensure we continue to have great schools, safe neighbourhoods and that our valuable green spaces remain untouched.”
Read more:
- Obituary: Geoff Webber’s life was dedicated to helping others
- Bilton by-election on May 6 after death of councillor
The by-election is scheduled on May 6. Nominations must be submitted by April 8.
It will be the only time residents can vote to elect county councillors this year after the government delayed elections due to local government reorganisation.
The Conservative-controlled county council currently has 53 Conservative councillors, four Labour councillors and four representing the Liberal Democrats. There are also eight North Yorkshire Independent and three independent councillors.
When the by-election was last run in 2017, Conservative Paul Haslam and Liberal Democrat Geoff Webber won the ward’s two seats with 1,618 and 1,414 votes respectively.
Liberal Democrat Mark McDermid came third with 1,285 votes and Conservative Graham Swift was fourth with 1,207 votes.
A spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats said it would choose its candidate after Mr Webber’s funeral today.
