Election 2022: Spofforth with Lower Wharfedale and Tockwith candidate preview

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 Spofforth with Lower Wharfedale and Tockwith division which will see three candidates standing for election.

Andrew Paraskos, Conservative

The Conservative candidate for the Spofforth with Lower Wharfedale and Tockwith division is Andrew Paraskos.

Mr Paraskos is currently the Spofforth With Lower Wharefdale councillor on Harrogate Borough Council. He also sits on North Yorkshire County Council.

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Paraskos for comment for this preview, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

A Conservative party spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that they were confident in their election campaign and pledged to continue investing in services across North Yorkshire if elected.

A party spokesperson said:

“The Conservatives are fielding an experienced slate of candidates. This is important as we argue the case for local services with settlements from Selby to Richmond and Whitby to Settle.

“That case includes continued investment in local services that has seen a new pool in Ripon and the start of a new pool and leisure centre in Knaresborough.

“We are investing in the Hydro to provide more leisure facilities for local people.

“We need to continue the investment in our conference centre adapting it to the modern conference and exhibition industry. The centre underpins thousands of jobs across the district and brings in an estimated £29m to the local economy.”

Alexandra Marsh, Green Party

Alexandra Marsh is the Green Party candidate for the division on May 5.

Ms Marsh has lived in Cowthorpe for 35 years and runs an organic food business.

She is semi-retired and is currently responsible financial officer for Tockwith with Wilstop Parish Council. 

On why she is standing for North Yorkshire Council, Ms Marsh said:

“I want the new NY Council to better support our rural communities, particularly our most vulnerable residents and our hard-hit small businesses, whilst reducing North Yorkshire’s carbon footprint as a matter of urgency. 

“The Green Party is the only Party genuinely committed to safeguarding life on this very special planet.”

John Hall, Yorkshire Party

John Hall will be standing for the Yorkshire Party in the division on election day.

Mr Hall lives in Follifoot village near Harrogate and ran his own business for 30 years. 

Between work and family time, he also taught cycling proficiency in local schools.

Mr Hall believes that Yorkshire should have “proper, powerful devolution through a regional parliament” in order to tackle issues such as transport.

He said:

“I support green transport and more rail-links. North Yorkshire’s bid for £116 million to fund bus improvements has been denied by Westminster. We’ll keep getting nothing until Yorkshire has proper, powerful devolution through a regional parliament.

“We have the same population as Scotland, an economy 50% larger than Wales, yet the rights and funding of neither.

“Local agriculture needs support during these difficult times but, like so many of Yorkshire’s past industries, Westminster does nothing to help.”

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