Micklegate is up for grabs.
Not the street or the run, but the ward. There’s a York council by-election in Micklegate Ward, caused by the decision of sitting Labour councillor Julie Gunnell to step down.
It’s the ward that includes Rowntree Park, the racecourse, South Bank and Bishy Road, the railway station, City of York Council’s West Offices HQ, and of course Micklegate.
Four of the main political parties have now revealed their candidates. They are campaigning on issues including cutting air pollution, reducing anti-social behaviour, tackling poverty and protecting frontline policies.
It is impossible to know who will win – Micklegate ward has three seats, at present held by a Labour, an independent and a Green councillor.
Here, then, in alphabetical order, are the candidates from four of Britain’s biggest parties.
Rosie Baker – Green
She has a partner and young son, and has worked at a research company on North Street and as the party’s office manager.
Since becoming policy officer for York Green Party she is focusing on wellbeing and health. Especially relevant to Micklegate and Rosie as she walks with her son along busy routes to school every day, is the campaign to cut air pollution.
Flooding is also on the agenda for Rosie being a resident and with many neighbours in surrounding flood risk streets, as is getting to the bottom of people’s rubbish and recycling woes a top priority, she says
– Rosie Baker
Jonny Crawshaw – Labour
He grew up in Dringhouses and worked in the NHS before returning to York. He led the campaign against academy conversion of the three South Bank Schools and is a parent governor at Scarcroft Primary as well as a spokesperson for the national, parent-led campaign Rescue Our Schools which speaks up for state education.
Jonny believes that York needs to tackle growing poverty and to improve social care.
He will campaign for a strong and sustainable health service and wants York to remain an open and welcoming city with no place for bigotry or racism.
He runs an on-line business selling rare vinyl records and once a month performs as a DJ at the Golden Ball, playing soul music.
Paul Healey – Conservative
He is a familiar face in local politics – he previously served on City of York Council between 2007 and 2015, and was deputy leader of the Conservative Group. With these skills Paul is ready to ‘hit the ground running’.
The issues facing residents, whether good schools for children, ensuring local businesses thrive or dealing with the sometimes problems like anti-social behaviour or the recent disruption caused by faster broadband being rolled out are those I am well familiar with.
I hope to be chosen by the people of Micklegate to represent them.
– Paul Healey
Aileen Hingston – Lib Dem
Her career involved health and social care, refugee issues, and economic statistics. She has been campaigning to resolve parking problems for residents and to improve local bus services.
If elected I will continue the York Liberal Democrats’ strong record for protecting frontline services.
Micklegate had one of the highest Remain vote in York and residents are being let down by the national Labour Party’s failure to fight against a hard Brexit. Right now the Liberal Democrats are the clearest voice on European issues, which really matter in this ward.
– Aileen Hingston
Its not an either/or when it comes to clean air and public transport. The current Lib Dem/Tory administration has had to be constantly pressed by the Greens to require ultra low emission buses in the next 8 year park and ride contract. Without that move the proposed clean air zone for the city centre is a non starter as other operators will say why should they splash out on cleaner buses if the council isn’t requiring it in their contract.