Yasmeen is elected as new West councillor

PEOPLE from West ward will be represented by a new councillor, after Yasmeen Maqbool won the Peterborough City Council election on Thursday.

Conservative Cllr Maqbool (32) has replaced former ward representative Samantha Dalton, who decided not to contest the seat and is the city’s first female Muslim councillor.

Cllr Maqbool votes.

Her nearest rivals were Labour’s Bedrea Laftah (547) and UKIP’S John Myles (499).

Independent candidate April Plant received 304 votes and Liberal Democrat Beki Sellick got 156

received

1,079 votes.

Cllr Maqbool said: “I am a confident, enthusiastic and passionate person.

“I thrive upon challenges and am committed to being at the forefront of bringing about positive changes for all residents.

“I want to ensure that all of West Ward is a safe and rewarding place to work and live.

“Having worked at Government Office East of England as a programme manager, I realised how we can make positive changes through various roles within our city.

“Councillors play a key part in shaping our city and I hope to reju- venate and bring a fresh, dynamic approach to the city council.

“I want to ensure that all of West Ward is a clean, safe and rewarding place to live, work and play.

“I will lobby on behalf of West Ward residents to the local authority to ensure their views are heard.

“Some of my priorities will be to bring positive redevelopment into our area, lobby for more investment for our area and enhance local leisure facilities and provide better facilities for our children.”

The ward turnout was 38 per cent – considerably higher than the Peterborough average of 30.7 per cent.