A POLITICIAN representing Silsden and Steeton has confirmed he will defend his Bradford Council seat in the May elections.

Cllr Adrian Naylor has served the Craven ward for the past decade.

Cllr Naylor, who lives in the ward and is also a member of Silsden Town Council, said he is passionate about his local community.

He added: “I want to preserve our community as much as possible and to improve it for the benefit of our residents."

Cllr Naylor said he is currently working on the Silsden, Steeton and Eastburn Neighbourhood Plan.

He added: “I am trying to protect us from being a dumping ground for housing, helping to protect our youth facilities from cuts and helping to create a community library to prevent ours being closed.

“Following approaches from a number of residents, it is clear a local person who actually lives in the ward and is part of the community is what is needed, not a candidate who is 'parachuted' in, and so I have decided to stand for re-election.”

The Labour Party has also unveiled its local candidates, with Silsden resident Val Carrol standing in the Craven ward.

Constituency chairman, Pam Johnson, said: “Our public services are already under threat from the Conservative Government’s massive cuts to local government spending, and worse is to come.

“Labour is the only party that will really stand up for Keighley people and put their interests first."