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05
May 2021
Last Updated: 04/05/2021
What the Bilton by-election candidates say on the big issues
The Bilton by-election candidates tell the Stray Ferret how they would respond to anti-social behaviour, dog mess and traffic congestion if they secure victory in Thursday's vote.
Anti-social behaviour, dog fouling and traffic congestion were the main issues Bilton residents said they wanted their new councillor to tackle after tomorrow's by-election.
Voters will choose a new North Yorkshire county councillor for the Bilton and Nidd Gorge division following the death of Liberal Democrat Geoff Webber.
It is the only local council election taking place in the Harrogate district.
We asked each candidate how they would respond to the issues raised by residents. For more information about each candidate visit here.
Anti-social behaviour
Andrew Kempston-Parkes, Liberal Democrat:
"I have always found Bilton to be a safe place to be, somewhere I would be happy to walk home to on a night time.
"It is a place lived in by honest, good people. They need the support of our council, our police and other residents when things go wrong.
"Personally, I would like to see increased numbers of police community support officers and police in our area."
Matt Scott, Conservatives:
"I am aware of recent reports of anti-social behaviour and am working with fellow councillor Paul Haslam and Harrogate Borough Council’s safer communities team to ensure information is shared.
"I have noticed more police on the streets of Bilton recently, which I believe is down to increased reporting because police resources are concentrated when and where more incidents are reported."
Tyler Reeton, Labour:
"I believe we need to create a ‘warning system’ so anti-social behaviour doesn’t spiral out of control and therefore, I would create a forum between the police, council and the public.
"This will offer the opportunity for residents to express concerns which can be addressed by our amazing local police team."
Arnold Warneken, Greens:
"One thing Bilton has in its favour is a strong community spirit and that will be an asset in overcoming the problems of anti-social behaviour.
"I don’t think the answer is just more police, it’s about policing differently, with everyday police presence on the streets and active engagement of these officers with schools and community groups, including a reinvigorated Neighbourhood Watch."
John Hall, Yorkshire Party:
"Are we doing enough to provide out of school activities such as sports clubs? This would be my priority. We need to work with schools and the local police and target with mobile CCTV in trouble areas".
Harvey Alexander, Independent:
"There is an old saying: 'The devil makes work for idle hands'. Anti-social behaviour is mostly caused by people who are unemployed, who feel that they do not have a stake in society. The best way to deal with the anti-social behaviour is for the council to bring manufacturing jobs to the Harrogate area."
Traffic congestion
Andrew Kempston-Parkes, Liberal Democrat:
"Firstly I would not have allowed thousands of houses to be built on the Skipton Road and in Killinghall and Hampsthwaite.
"For this senseless over-development, we have to thank this Conservative concrete council who failed to put in place the right type of local development framework. This allowed the developers free reign."
Matt Scott, Conservatives:
"With the relief road rightly defeated, options to accommodate more cars are limited though in the greenway we already have a direct cycle and walking route into town from Bilton, which is accessible from several points.
"Free bus passes are provided for senior citizens by the county council to give another alternative to car travel.
"We also need to work with schools to encourage participation in 'walking buses' where children walk to school in a parent-led group. We all need to think about the journeys we make and whether we could make them in a more environmentally-friendly way."
Tyler Reeton, Labour:
"I will support implementing a park-and-ride scheme to connect Bilton to the rest of Harrogate through Skipton Road. This park-and-ride scheme has to be a genuine green alternative, which is affordable and accessible for residents to consider for travel to work and leisure."
Arnold Warneken, Greens:
"The Yorkshire rail improvement survey found that over 700 people would use the train every day if Bilton station were re-opened, but that the location made the necessary engineering works too difficult. That’s the kind of initiative I want North Yorkshire County Council to be looking at. Yes there will be tough decisions and money will need to be spent but doing nothing is not an option"
John Hall, Yorkshire Party:
"I would like to see a full review of public transport in and around Harrogate. This would include more buses with affordable fares in all parts of Harrogate including Bilton. I would also support the proposed new railway station in Bilton."
Harvey Alexander, Independent:
"The easiest way to reduce congestion on Skipton Road would be to syncronise the traffic lights and to adjust their timing according to the flow of traffic at different times of day."
Dog fouling
Andrew Kempston-Parkes, Liberal Democrat:
"I would propose the reintroduction of the dog license.
"The proceeds would be ring-fenced to hire more dog wardens, increase surveillance in known fouling areas and prosecution of those dog owners who do not clean up after their pets.
"Firstly a warning, secondly a hefty fine (with naming and shaming) and finally the confiscation of the dog and its re-homing."
Matt Scott, Conservatives:
"Following a resident on Tennyson Avenue getting in touch with me, I met with Harrogate Borough Council’s dog warden to discuss the issue of dog fouling.
"We put penalty notice stickers on lamp posts and visited a few hotspots residents had let me know about. I have informed the street cleansing team about the hotspots and will include them on future litter picks I hope to organise as restrictions on gatherings ease."
Tyler Reeton, Labour:
"I believe signs are a great way to create awareness of not picking up dog mess but rather than create generic signs, I would like to work with local primary schools and social enterprises to put this measure in place. Each primary school can have their own project – recycling point, bin or rubbish point."
Arnold Warneken, Greens:
"In certain locations it is acceptable to 'stick and flick' as dog mess is a food source for so much of our wildlife. I’d like to see more hedgerows along our grass verges, lining every street. They’d discourage people from parking on the verges and dog owners could simply scoop their pet’s mess under the hedge, providing an increased source of food that is almost guaranteed to bring a hedgehog to every street."
John Hall, Yorkshire Party:
"Mobile CCTV can also be used to identify dog owners who allow their dogs to foul pavements and walkways. In addition, anyone walking a dog off the lead or who fails to show that they are unequipped to pick up dog mess would face a £100 fine."
Harvey Alexander, Independent:
"The council should use CCTV to discover the culprits and prosecute them."
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