Leeds local elections 2024: Calverley & Farsley candidates’ statements

Voters in Calverley & Farsley Ward will go to the polls on Thursday May 2, 2024 for the Leeds City Council elections. One councillor will be elected.

Voters are reminded that photo ID is needed to vote at polling stations. More details here.

Your West Leeds Dispatch has attempted to contact candidates asking them for a statement of up to 300 words and a head and shoulders photograph to help you decide who to vote for. Here are their responses…

Carter, Amanda: Conservative Party

15 Clarke Street, Calverley, Pudsey LS28 5NH

Local elections should be about improving our communities and looking after constituents’ interests, what you do in the community you live in, not politics.   

My priorities are directed by local residents and what they want to see, for example: the average speed cameras on the A647/Ring Road, Ring Road improvements, a bridge between Farsley and Calverley, the new Parklife development at Woodhall will see better pitches for sport and relieve parking problems, saving Pudsey Civic Hall – but most importantly standing up for local residents with individual issues and going the extra mile, to try and resolve them.  

Road safety – I am determined to do my best to make sure the council takes measures to stop speeding and rat running through residential areas.  We can’t afford any more bad accidents, near misses or fatalities. 

Young people – Through my work with disabled children and young people with learning difficulties, I understand the problems parents and carers face. I will always fight to get children the help they need, whether that is with Educational Health & Care Plans, school appeals or other support.

Anti-social behaviour and crime – I will continue to work with the Police and urge them to clamp down on anti-social behaviour and criminality. Our area must be safe for all age groups.

Protecting our environment – I will continue to speak out and oppose unnecessary development on our Green Belt and green fields.  The Council will be publishing sites they want to see developed over the next 15 years.  We must preserve our green environment to pass on to future generations and house building should be on brown field sites, of which there are still plenty.

Protecting our basic services – road repairs and refuse collection are issues where the Council performs badly and I will hold them to account. 

Graham, Ellen: Green Party

Address in Leeds.

I am happy to be standing in this ward again as your Green Party candidate. I have lived in this ward for the past seven years and it would be an honour to represent this area on the council. 

The Greens have more than quadrupled our number of councillors around the country in the last few years and expect more gains on 2 May. We seek community-led initiatives and solutions that deliver for residents, the environment, and the local economy. More and more voters are recognising the positive difference that Greens can make in local decision-making. 

For me this includes:

• improving public transport by protecting and restoring key bus routes through our ward, and promoting well-planned active travel options 
• influencing local planning decisions to ensure that our communities can develop in a sustainable way with the right housing in the right places, properly connected to public services and businesses
• building safer communities by working effectively with the police and others to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. 

Green councillors are committed to working collaboratively with different stakeholders and other political parties to put our communities first.

Greens will never be forced to toe the party line and I will always be free to be a strong voice on Leeds City Council able to stand up for what is best for the different areas of this ward. 

McLeod, Stuart: Liberal Democrats

107 Old Road, Farsley, LS28 5BR.

I moved to Yorkshire in 2015, and I have lived in Farsley since 2019.

I currently work in energy and sustainability, having previously held operational and project management roles in retail. However, I started my career as an aircraft technician in the RAF, during which time I served in Afghanistan and on exercise in the UK and Kenya.

I am also a keen runner, cyclist and swimmer, but importantly Dad to a six-month-old son.  I am committed to equality, environmentalism, community and internationalism.

I want to serve on the Council to improve public transport, education, protect green spaces and provide a voice for local communities in times of austerity.

Too often we are told ‘there is no money’, however this is often used to conceal a lack of political will to make the decisions that will benefit the many over the few.

I personally fund a bursary scheme for mature students at Lancaster University, I am a member of the environmental action group for the Catholic Diocese of Leeds, I sit on a committee of the Energy Institute and I have recently been appointed to a voluntary role on the board of governors for Leeds Trinity University.

If elected, I would leverage my passion for voluntary community participation to champion policies that encourage grassroots community-led projects across the Leeds City Region.

Timmins, Craig: Labour and Co-operative Party

Flat 17 Canal House, 9 Calverley Bridge, Leeds LS13 1PY.

I have lived in and been involved our community for many years – as former landlord of the Calverley Arms for 10 years, as well as being active in many local community groups and campaigns.

My wife and I love our home here. We enjoy walks along the canal through Rodley, spending time with our son in Calverley Park, and frequenting the fantastic independent businesses on Farsley Town Street.

This is the place where we are proud to raise our son who attends one of our local schools, where I am also chair of the PTA.

I am not a career politician – I want to be your councillor because I love our community and I want to make it an even better place to grow up, work and live. 

I have spent countless hours speaking with residents right across the ward to discuss their ideas for making our area better.

If elected as your councillor my priorities will be:

• Supporting our local economy by encouraging local businesses to create jobs and attract investment – especially in those areas with fewer facilities.
• Working to combat crime and anti-social behaviour; and to make our roads safer.
• Fighting for better services for all in our community, from youth services to groups for older people, to transport links.
• Campaigning for the right housing locally – alongside investment in local infrastructure such as local healthcare facilities, well-maintained roads, and our parks and green spaces.
• Championing our community spirit by supporting local groups, events and activities.

I promise to be a strong voice for all our areas across Calverley, Farsley, Pudsey, Rodley, Stanningley, Thornbury and Woodhall. I will work hard for you all year round, not just at election time. I hope I can count on your support.