Three stand for Ryedale District Council seat in Norton West by-election

After the recent death of Conservative councillor Judith Denniss, three members of Norton Town Council are to make a bid to win the seat on Thursday, November 15 – the same day as the vote for the North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner post.

Liberal Democrat Di Keal, the current town mayor of Norton, will be up against Conservative candidate Coun Paul Farndale, a former town mayor, and Coun Karl Reveley who is standing for Labour.

Di Keal (Liberal Democrat)

I AM standing for election as I passionately believe in Norton and its people and on my strong track record of putting words into action.

Before being elected a town councillor 11 years ago, I campaigned for the £10.3 million defences that now protect us from further floods. I’ve been fighting for our community ever since.

I have been mayor for 18 months and was a Norton West district councillor for eight years.

Norton faced hard times during the building of the Brambling Fields junction, but now it's time to move forward and encourage people to choose to shop in Commercial Street. This is why I’m working with local traders to promote Norton and all it has to offer.

Norton has been hit by appalling district council decisions: selling our bowling club, abandoning young people by stopping funding the skateboard park. I am determined to secure the future of the skatepark.

I am working with Norton College students and Norton Youth Council on a community website, promoting the Woodhams Stone Collection and fund–raising for local charity Louby’s Lifeline.

I want to work with local people of all ages to ‘stand up for Norton’ – please support me to make your voice heard on the district council.

Paul Farndale (Conservative)

I HAVE been a councillor on Norton Town Council for the last nine years and was privileged to be mayor from 2009 to 2011.

I have been married to Maureen, a local girl, for 46 years and have lived in Norton ever since. I have worked as a self-employed tailor in Malton for the last 31 years.

I am presently the chairman of Malton, Norton and District Royal British Legion and I am busy helping organise events for Remembrance Weekend and the Poppy Appeal.

As a town councillor I feel very strongly that Norton must retain its character and all new development should be complimentary to the character of the town.

I believe that we should support our Local Neighbourhood Plan which will give the community more of a say in matters such as the skate park which is a must for the youth of Malton and Norton.

As your prospective councillor, I must have a genuine interest in Ryedale, but Norton must take precedence as the major community.

I am on record as opposing the sale of Wentworth Street car park but supporting the relocation of the Livestock Market.

Should I be elected, it will be a privilege and honour to serve the residents of Norton West.

Karl Reveley (Labour)

I HAVE lived in Ryedale all my life and have resided in Norton for 15 years and work for Station Taxis, based in Church Street.

I am a Norton town councillor and I am ambitious to move to district level. I would be your voice in tough times and represent you on issues that matter to you.

I would oppose plans for 1,500 new homes in the area which would lead to primary schools reaching full capacity and new families struggling to find places for their children as well as most households having cars etc adding to the congestion on our roads.

I would also oppose plans for a new supermarket in Malton as I believe it would lead to local traders having to close as they cannot compete with a large superstore and our shopkeepers have suffered enough with roadworks and the delays on A64 junction.

I also want to help tackle anti social behaviour on our streets having more visual deterrents rather than police cutbacks by the Tory-led government. If you want someone who cares about your community then vote for me on November 15. Vote Labour.