Hebden Royd Town Council Bye-Election results
Friday, 16 November 2012
West End seat:
Jonathan Timbers (Lab) 220 elected
Stephen Curry (Ind) 101
Craig Whitwell (Lib Dem) 96
White Lee
Robin Dixon (Lab) 136
Julia Gibson (Lib Dem) 261 elected
Hebden Royd Town Council Bye-Election
Thursday, 25 October 2012
Voters will have the chance to elect two councillors to Hebden Royd Town Council on 15 November, one in West End ward, Hebden Bridge and one in White Lee ward in Mytholmroyd. Voters will have the opportunity to vote for the Police Commissioner at the same time.
There are three candidates for West End ward: Stephen Curry (Indpendent), Craig Whittall (Lib-Dem) and Jonathan Timbers (Lab). Each of them has sent the HebWeb a profile - see below.
There are two candidates for White Lee ward. Robin Dixon (Lab) and Julia Gibson (Lib-Dem). Four out of the five candidates have sent the HebWeb their profiles. See below
Independent candidate: Stephen Curry
Most people who have followed my contributions to Hebweb will know that I believe that the Town Council as a community body has been lost to a small minority representation of Political Party Activists. Most people know I believe that the council should be a community body leading the community as a whole, not bickering amongst themselves about which party did or didn't do this or that. This year we have seen: moves to divide the council into two, the loss of the youth committee/ working party and the rejection of a community developed Neighbourhood Plan.
When I read the Hebden Royd mission statement, I wonder if this belongs to our Council at all! It includes:
"We are committed to a better quality of life for all the people of Hebden Royd. We plan to achieve this in association with community groups and the public, private and voluntary sectors. Hebden Royd Town Council will therefore strive to: Be responsive to the needs of the community. Wherever possible, individuals and groups are encouraged to work in partnership with the Council to enhance the area to the benefit of the wider community".
I believe that even just one real Independent Councillor can bring this focus back to the wider community and the stated purpose of the council.
By electing me in West End Ward, where I have lived and run my business for 12 years, you will get a town councillor who is already engaged at the heart of the community. As a Trustee of the Hebden Bridge Community Association (HBCA) I have volunteered for a number of responsibilities at your new Town Hall building. I am part of the team working for Heritage lottery funds to restore the grade II old council building to its former elegance and grandeur. I have specific responsibilities for overseeing your safety in the buildings. I also sit on the Governance, the capital build and the finance committees. And I am leading for the HBCA on: looking at how we can possibly help ensure the police maintain a presence in the town should the police station close, and on looking at a strategy for managing our visitor economy from Hebden rather than from Halifax. For me the difference between the HBCA and the Council is one of vision and a willingness to put differences aside to provide positive opportunities for the whole community, and not for political constituencies.
I would seek to make a real link between the work of both organisation. I believe there are some good community councillors who seem shackled by party dogma, and I think some fresh independent influence could encourage them to be more 'whole community' focussed.
I also sit on the Town Partnership, another forward thinking committee comprised of community groups from around the town. This once dynamic group has had little support from the Town Council in recent years. I would seek to reverse that negative stance and work to see its Neighbourhood Plan is revisited.
If elected I would work for all the electorate and I look to promote more Independent Councillors in the future by being an example to show that we don't have to select councillors from just the 1.5% of the population who belong to political parties, and who currently dominate our local community governance.
Liberal Democrats select candidate for West End by-election
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
The Liberal Democrats have selected Craig Whittall who lives on Cheetham Street in Hebden Bridge as their candidate in the West End by-election. Craig has been working in Hebden Bridge since January 2010 and moved here permanently in March this year. Craig is active with the Friends of Calder Holmes park and is currently co-orientating their project to renovate the tennis courts
Speaking on why he wants to stand for the Town Council, Craig said "I hope to use the interest that local by-elections can generate to raise the issue of how Hebden Royd can better support young people's participation in the life of the community and can help promote apprenticeships and work/training opportunities. I believe that a Town Council with the resources and influence of Hebden Royd could be taking a much more active role in opening out opportunities to create and participate in events, as well as helping people to work and learn."
Craig Whittall pictured on the right with the local Lib Dem team
Up until polling day Craig is making himself available to meet people for a 'lunchtime chat', either on Mondays at Marco's Cafe, Valley Road, 1pm-1.45pm or on Saturdays at the Organic House Cafe, Market Street, 11am-12pm. He also has a website where you can find out further information about him and his campaign.)
Town Council bye-elections: Labour Candidate selected for West End Ward
Friday, 19 October 2012
Labour has selected its candidate for the forthcoming by-election in West End. Jonathan Timbers, who has lived in the ward for 21 years, has a wealth of experience in the local community.
He served as an HRTC town councillor from 1995 to 1999 and is a former governor of Central Street School.
Currently Jonathan is a governor at Hebden Royd Primary School, where his daughter Sophie is a pupil.
In the weeks before the election on November 15 Jonathan will be getting round the ward meeting as many people as he can and listening to the issues which concern them.
His campaign priorities include:
- Drains that don’t flood every time there’s a heavy downpour
- Safer routes to and from local schools
- Proper disabled access at Hebden Bridge station
- A new park for Eaves, with a safe fence and better equipment
- A flexible Hebden Bridger bus service, restoring the service to Eaves estate
- Support for victims of anti-social behaviour from the police and other public authorities
- Support for sustainable business and food production
- Training and job opportunities
Jonathan, who has previously worked as an English teacher and legal adviser with a background in disability rights, said:
“Three generations of my family live in West End ward, so the area’s in my DNA. The Town Council’s there to support our local communities and develop helpful projects, and that’s where I want my focus to be.
I’m very interested in local food networks and renewable power and ensuring that the town and countryside is accessible to everyone. I’ve also got some ideas about how to develop responsible tourism which could benefit local businesses.
Most of all though, I know that many of you are struggling through hard times, trying to support your families. Not only do I know how you feel, because I’m there myself, if elected, I can work for you.
“I hope people in West End will give me the chance to represent them on Hebden Royd Town Council.”
Robin Dixon: Labour candidate for White Lee ward
I would like to introduce myself as Labour candidate for White lee ward. I moved to live in Mytholmroyd in 2009. Previously I lived in Old Town and Hebden Bridge for 25 years.. I thoroughly enjoy living in the village community, so well served with shops and services. Living by the canal is lovely and rural but I am close to the amenities and more importantly ‘village life’
I previously served as a Hebden Royd Councillor for six years and was Chair of the Council and Town Mayor in 2010. In that time I built a reputation for working for the whole of Hebden Royd and supported many projects and community groups in Mytholmroyd and surrounding communities.
However, there is a lot more work to do:
- Mytholmroyd Station needs a car park and a realistic development of its unique architecture.
- Mytholmroyd needs a properly enforced 20 MPH speed limit.
- Mytholmroyd needs to be an essential part of new Flood Defence projects.
- Small businesses must be supported to continue to play an important part in our community.
- Community groups must be supported in applying for grants and assistance.
- Calder High needs local support to get the funding it deserves.
- Playgrounds and parks need further development.
Local residents need strong, practical representation of White Lea and Mytholmroyd on Hebden Royd Town Council and I believe I can provide that. I hope I can rely on your support.
See also: for info on West Yorkshire police and crime commissioner candidates, see this informative BBC page
Previously, on HebWeb
Two councillors quit - 6 September 2012
2011 elections results - normally, three councilors are elected every 4 years to represent each of the 6 wards.