Ahead of polling day on May 5, the Stray Ferret is previewing each of the divisions in the Harrogate district up for election to North Yorkshire Council.
A total of 21 seats will be up for grabs in the district with most of the major parties contesting each one.
Today, we look at the Bilton Grange and New Park division which will see four candidates standing for election.
Matt Scott, Conservative
Matt Scott will stand as the Conservative candidate for Bilton and New Park on May 5.
Mr Scott is a councillor on both Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council, the latter of which he was elected to last year.
On his priorities and why he is standing, Mr Scott said:
“I am a lifelong Bilton resident and, along with the Green candidate, the only candidate who lives in the ward.
“I have been a district councillor since 2018 and represented all of Bilton Grange and part of New Park as county councillor since I won the Bilton and Nidd Gorge by-election last year.
“My priorities continue to be protecting our green spaces such as the Nidd Gorge and the Oak Beck. I am working with my colleague Paul Haslam to oppose development off Knox Lane while challenging Yorkshire Water on outflows into the Oak Beck near the Hydro.
“I also worked with Paul and Andrew Jones MP to oppose the Nidd Gorge relief road proposal.”
He added:
“I have a track record of getting things done such as securing CCTV for the Iron Bridge, getting durable bus shelter panels for Jennyfield to deter vandalism and getting the Cinder Path resurfaced in Bilton.”
Tamsin Jade Worrell, Green Party
The Green Party candidate for Bilton and New Park will be Tamsin Jade Worrall.
Ms Worrall, who is a trans-woman and lives in Bilton, works as a a railway signaller following 36 years as operations management within food manufacturing.
She joined the Green Party in 2018 and has had a lifelong interest in politics.
Ms Worrall said:
“I believe we are on the verge of a climate catastrophe exacerbated by the awful policies of all recent national governments.
“I believe in local business for local people, free education for all, social justice and personal accountability. The time has come to do politics differently and put people first.”
Read more:
- How the Harrogate district’s wards will change ahead of local election
- Full list of election candidates in Harrogate district revealed
Andrew Zigmond, Labour
Andrew Zigmond will be the Labour candidate for the division on May 5.
Mr Zigmond said among his priorities should he be elected would be to tackle anti-social behaviour in Bilton.
He said:
“I am standing as a Labour party candidate for Bilton Grange and New Park because I believe we need councillors in place who will bring about fundamental change, rather than more of the same.
“If I am elected I will work with the local police to ensure that antisocial behaviour is tackled robustly and that the safety of all residents is my priority.
“At the same time Bilton used to have a thriving youth club and I pledge to get this reopened.”
Monika Slater, Liberal Democrat
Monika Slater will be standing for the Liberal Democrats at the election May 5.
Ms Slater has worked in customer services for 17 years and is a volunteer at her local scouts.
She said among her priorities for standing will be to campaign for a town council for Harrogate.
Ms Slater said:
“I’m delighted to have been selected as the Lib Dem Campaigner for our area. If elected I’m determined to stand up for local people.
“With the Conservative Government in free-fall and an ineffective Conservative-run council, our area needs a fresh start and I’m determined to provide this.”
She added:
“We ned to do more to support the most disadvantaged in our community addressing issues such as loneliness and social isolation, improved access to public transport and schools need additional covid catch up funding for children and young adults who have missed so much education. I will be campaigning for a new Harrogate Town Council.”