Candidates’ aims as election nears
PROSPECTIVE councillors have started on the campaign trail ahead of the imminent Hertford by-election.
Scarborough Borough Council this week announced that four candidates will contest the election, which is due to be held on March 16.
Standing for election will be Scarborough residents Vanda Inman of Givendale Road, Bob Jackman of Brierley Road and Michael John James of Coniston Gardens.
They join Hunmanby parish council chairman Michelle Donohue-moncrieff, of Northgate, who had announced her intention to stand earlier this month.
Speaking to the Mercury, the candidates have laid out their aims should they be elected. The Hertford Ward seat was vacated after the shock resignation of former Green Party councillor Nick Harvey, who cited a lack of support from the borough council for his decision.
Lib Dem candidate Bob Jackman is a former councillor in Newcastle, having served a term before retiring and moving to Scarborough in 2007.
A former consultant for the Department for Education and Skills, the science and mathematics graduate said: “I am concerned that there seems to be a lack of attention to detail in some council affairs.
“How is it possible for two councils to run up a £200,000 bill over a tree [at Irton] without anyone noticing? This sort of money could be used to do a lot of good, such as protecting library services.
“I am also concerned that our business parks remain empty and job opportunities are lacking.”
He has received the backing of current Lib Dem councillor Brian Simpson, who added: “Bob is an experienced councillor and would hit the ground running. Scarborough needs people like him to help oversee the work of the council.”
Labour Party candidate Vanda Inman is hoping to break the Conservative “strangehold” on the council.
A member of the Labour Party for five years, she said of her decision to stand: “I have some spare time in my life and I believe people should have a choice.
“It seems to be run by Tories. I want to stop Scarborough Council doing what they want.”
However, Cllr Donohue-moncrieff, who is standing for the Conservative party, said the by-election shouldn’t be dictated by political allegiance, rather it should be about who can best serve the people of the ward.
The parish council chairman, who is the only person contesting the ward who lives in it, said: “I live in this area and I feel passionately about what happens here.
“I feel that it’s important that the people get someone from the area. “It matters to people.” Polling cards for residents in the ward are being prepared and will be issued shortly with polling taking place between the hours of 7am and 10pm on Thursday March 15.
The deadline for anyone who is not already registered to vote is Wednesday February 29; similarly, anyone wishing to apply for a new postal vote or change their existing postal vote must also do so by 5pm on Wednesday February 29.
The Mercury was unable to contact UKIP candidate Michael John James.
What issues would you like to see a new councillor tackle? Write or email Ian Johnson.