Candidates standing for the St Michael's ward in the upcoming Cumberland Council election

Voters will take to the polls on May 5 to elect Unitary councillors for the new authority.

Candidates standing for the St Michael's Ward in Allerdale have highlighted the main issues they hope to tackle in the area. 

Barbara Cannon 

Labour

AMBITION: Barbara Cannon says the new council will need to have ambition

We need the new Cumberland Council to provide services that help protect our elderly relatives or children or that ensure quality education and decent public.  Above all our new council must have ambition. It must be able to have plans that will enable greater investment in our area. Investment that will help to create new jobs and new businesses for example.  Investment that will improve our roads and public transport and improve faster and more efficient internet and communications links.  We need investment to protect our environment and reduce the harmful impact of climate change.

I was born in Workington town centre and went to school here.  I have been actively involved in schemes in the town including the regeneration of the town centre and the building of Workington Community Hospital. I have spent many years as an elected representative in all three tiers of local government and know how things work and what we will need to do to bring about the change that will benefit us all.

John Connell

Conservative

ELECT: John Connell says his job has given him 'good insight' into the wards issues

My name is John Connell. I live with my partner Becky Fee, our six-year-old daughter, Elena and a lively ‘Jackapoo’ named Orla.

I also have strong connections to the communities of St Michael’s. I train in Ted’s and have previously lived on John Street, Peter Street, Johnston Street, Frazer Street and Derwent Street (all inside the new ward boundaries).

A former Times & Star reporter, I now work as the senior caseworker for Mark Jenkinson MP. Both roles have given me a good insight into some of the issues facing the ward – and some ideas about how they could be improved.

Antisocial behaviour, including drug use and disturbances at the ‘bottom end’ of town, is quite clearly having a detrimental impact on the quality of life of the law-abiding majority – and this needs to be addressed as a priority,

Parts of St Michael’s have an issue with weeds, litter, graffiti, and general untidiness, while the condition of the roads is also very poor in places.

The rising cost of living are proving challenging for residents on lower incomes, making that access to the right support, advice and services – as well as job and training opportunities – more important than ever.  

Will Wilkinson 

Independent

INDEPENDENT: Will Wilkinson

 The biggest worry on everyone’s mind at the moment is the energy price hike, with another due in October.  Water bills and shopping bills escalating while wages are nearly stagnant. National politics takes the emphasis off local governance, and the untruths being given in order to secure your vote are astounding.

Labour offering you £600 off your energy bills if you vote labour at the council elections, conservative’s offering to invest in local infrastructure and highways when this government has cut £10,000.000 per year from the highways budget. 

 These elections, LOCAL COUNCIL NOT NATIONAL POLITICS.

 Born in the ward nearly 60 years ago and still reside in it, I offer you good local representation what’s good for the ward not a party, what’s good for council not politics, please check where other candidates live. NOT IN THE WARD

Let’s do this vote WILL WILKINSON 5th may independent councillor.

Margaret Bennet

Liberal- Democrat

All candidates have been approached to do this piece.