24
Jun 2024
‘We desperately need change’, says Skipton and Ripon Lib Dem candidate
We’re profiling parliamentary candidates for Skipton and Ripon. This is part of a series of interviews with those standing. The Stray Ferret has spoken to all the candidates running for election in the Skipton and Ripon constituency and will be running features on each of them. Here, Andrew Murday of the Liberal Democrats talks about his priorities.
A former heart surgeon-turned-North Yorkshire councillor is hoping to end the Conservatives' 41-year dominance in Skipton and Ripon.
Andrew Murday, 70, was just days post-hip replacement when he spoke to the Stray Ferret. This is the second time he has stood in the traditionally solid Tory seat, which includes Pateley Bridge and Masham.
In 2019 he finished third with 14.8% of the vote.
Here's what he thinks on issues such as tackling Pateley Bridge's housing shortfall, the Ripon Cathedral annexe project and rural transport.
'Lots of space for more affordable housing'
One of the most common issues raised in Pateley Bridge on our recent Stray Ferret election road trip was the acute lack of affordable homes.
With so many homes converted to holiday lets, there is little prospect of many young people or people on low incomes being able to afford to buy or rent.
Mr Murday said he supported the Liberal Democrats' manifesto pledge to give local authorities the power to increase council tax on second homes by up to 500%.
He added:
It's a difficult combination as we do need the tourism trade to boost our economy and it must be thought through so that the rural communities can continue to exist.
But this pledge would also discourage people from buying second homes.
He added there “is a will” for more housing to be built in Nidderdale, adding:
Of course, there’s a new Local Plan being drawn up. These houses have to be properly fitted out, environmentally secure and in the right place, but there is lots of space for more affordable housing to be built.
Providing they’re sound houses and in the right place, I would support more housing built in the constituency.
Support for Ripon Cathedral annexe
Mr Murday said developing Ripon city centre would also be high on his priority list:
I feel the Market Place is a huge asset to the city. If you went almost anywhere else, you wouldn’t find such a beautiful market square being used as a car park.
Ripon is a resort to an extent and it has so many tourist attractions.
It certainly needs developing – and that is feasible. If you look at the Clotherhome development, it provides an opportunity for further development, which is something I'd support if elected.
The Lib Dem candidate also said he backs the Ripon Cathedral annexe development, adding the lack of toilets was “ridiculous”. He said:
Of course, the cathedral itself needs the development to expand its space.
Does Ripon need the development? I would say yes.
It’s such a huge part of Ripon’s tourism offering and it currently has little more than a small bookshop. An attraction of that size needs more.
Yes, the site would lose some trees. That’s sad, but it has to happen. I don’t think that should be stopping the development.
Mr Murday said he understood some shops on Kirkgate felt the devklopment would leave them “deprived of business” but claimed “this wouldn’t be the case” because of the expected increase in tourists the project would bring.
Agriculture and environment
Mr Murday also said he would work towards improving support for local farmers and river water quality if elected.
As chairman of Nidderdale National Landscape and a board member of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, he called for agricultural grants to be "much more accessible" to constituents:
Agriculture is the second biggest factor in Skipton and Ripon’s economy. I think we need to make the application processes for grants easier for them and much more accessible – it’s overly bureaucratic at the moment.
Mr Murday added he would prioritise working towards the single market to help local farmers with 'Brexit regret'.
Polluted rivers is another issue he'd like to tackle.
Mr Murday is a member of Nidd Action Group, which campaigns to clean the Nidd, which flows through Pateley. He said:
I’ve been there sampling water quality and clambering over rocks. The business of sewage – often just raw sewage – spilling into waterways in just horrendous. It has to stop.
I don’t think there’s anyone else that feels differently. Although, when there was legislation introduced to penalise water companies for spilling raw sewage, it was blocked by the Conservatives – bizarrely. It’s difficult to understand why.
The DalesBus 821 which passes through Nidderdale.
Transport
For all its beauty, Nidderdale is not the easiest place to live or visit if you haven't got a car.
Mr Murday said he has been “pressing” for improved public transport since being elected as North Yorkshire Council's Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale councillor in 2022.
We know that if you have a good, regular and reliable bus service – that is relatively inexpensive – people use it. An example of that being the 36 between Ripon and Leeds.
Currently, the last bus from Harrogate to Nidderdale leaves at 5.30pm. The commuter train from Leeds to Harrogate gets in at 5.35pm – that’s not good enough.
Better transport provision requires the dreaded word: investment. It also requires determination. Those that are reliant on public transport can’t necessarily get to Harrogate, and those that live in outer Nidderdale struggle to even get to Pateley Bridge.
There has to be some public investment. There needs to be a co-ordinated timetable and that is quite feasible for local government to take control of.
'Do I think I'll win? No'
We asked Mr Murday why people should vote for him, he said:
People need change – they’re fed up with the current government.
But we're not voting for the government here, because it will be a Labour government come May.
So, the people of Skipton and Ripon need somebody with the right policies – somebody that will listen to them and represent them. I think that could be me.
Do I think I’ll win? No. Would I like to win? Yes.
For goodness sake, everyone knows our communities are currently failing and we desperately need to change that.
Voters will head to the polls in Skipton and Ripon on July 4.
The full list of candidates for Skipton and Ripon are as follows:
Malcolm Birks, Labour
Andy Brown, Green Party
Simon Garvey, Reform UK
Ryan Kett, Yorkshire Party
Andrew Murday, Liberal Democrats
Guy Phoenix, Heritage Party
Julian Smith, Conservative and Unionist Party
Keith Tordoff, Independent
The Stray Ferret is hosting hustings event in Ripon this week. You can book a free ticket here.
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