Castle Ward, Scarborough, by-election: Labour candidate wants to be 'voice for residents'
A North Yorkshire by-election candidate has said she wants to be a ‘voice for residents’ if elected.
Residents in the Castle Ward of Scarborough are set to elect a new town councillor at a by-election on Thursday, July 30.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is interviewing candidates standing in the Castle Ward by-election, and all parties have been offered an opportunity to take part in the interviews.
The four candidates are:
- Robert Hall, Independent
- Stuart Noble, Green Party
- Susan Rumford, Reform UK
- Fiona Margaret Stephenson, Labour Party
Fiona Stephenson, the Labour Party candidate, describes herself as a “Scarborian working in Castle Ward who grew up on Merlin Road, just outside the ward”.
The LDRS caught up with the candidate ahead of polling day.
Q: What are the key issues facing residents in the ward?
A: “I think there’s a lot of poverty and I think there’s a real divide, especially in the old town, between very wealthy and very poor.
“There’s a lot of antisocial behaviour and a lack of facilities, things to do for children and young adults.
"We’ve lost youth clubs and things like that after 14 years of austerity, and I think it’s getting things back into those areas that keep, especially young people and children, busy and out of trouble.
“The other thing is all these Airbnbs as well.
"That’s a real issue.”
Q: Are those issues that you’d like to work on if elected as a town councillor?
A: “I’m a teacher working with SEN children, so I come across these things in my professional life.
“Obviously I’m realistic about the capacity a town councillor has, so I’m quite eager to, if I’m elected, find out what I can do, because there’s no point promising things that I can’t do as a town councillor.”
Q: If you were elected, would you work with other parties on the town council?
A: “Yes, I would – I believe that on most issues, the town council can work together.”
Q: What are your top three commitments, if elected?
A:
- “To be a well-known face to people in Castle Ward so that they can contact me, and to be seen as approachable and to listen to what people think.
- “To help create a joined-up approach with the police and social services to tackle some of the anti-social issues.
- “To improve facilities for children and young people, to work with other community groups to look at things like children’s play areas and youth clubs.”
Q: What do you think about Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister?
A: “I was very sad to see Keir Starmer go, and I would say that I think he’s the best leader we’ve had since Gordon Brown, but I think Andy Burnham will be brilliant.”
Q: Do you think the Labour Government has done enough to support places like Scarborough so far?
A: “I think we’re only two years in. The Pride in Place funding has been fantastic, and our MP Alison Hume has put Scarborough on the map.
“I do think Scarborough has been neglected, and I think there are areas in Castle Ward that have been really, really neglected.
"Governments over the years have neglected coastal communities.
"I think Labour is serious about improving lives in coastal communities.”