A NEWLY-ELECTED member of Bingley Town Council says he will “keep an eye” on a controversial housing development plan after winning a by-election.

Andrew Fenton (Conservative), 55, claimed the Lady Lane and Oakwood ward seat, with 195 votes.

He beat Maureen Carney (Independent) who received 168 votes and Abdul Wahid Malik (Labour) who finished third with 71 votes.

The by-election, held on Thursday, had a turnout of 36 per cent, with 435 people voting out of a possible 1,211. Cllr Fenton replaces former Bingley Town Council leader Terry Brown, who resigned due to ill health.

Cllr Fenton, who runs a construction company, said he hopes to hold monthly surgeries in his ward and will also look to give a boost to public amenities in his area.

A key issues for Cllr Fenton is a proposal for between 420 and 440 homes in Sty Lane, Micklethwaite - a controversial scheme which was rubber-stamped after the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid, agreed with Bradford Council’s granting of outline planning permission.

The permission, announced last year, has 40 conditions attached.

He said: “Sty Lane is a massive issue and one that I will be keeping an eye on. It feels very good and fulfilling to be voted in. I will look to represent the people that elected me in and the people that did not. I want to engage with people and look after the community. I will look forward to getting into the job.”

Meanwhile, a retired head librarian from Liverpool who moved to Yorkshire in 2001 has won an overwhelming victory in a Keighley Town Council by-election.

Martin Walker, the husband of former Keighley town mayor and councillor Sally Walker, won the contest for Bogthorn and Exley Ward, picking up 292 votes to his opponent Mohammed Ansar Ali’s 13 votes. A total of 305 people voted – a turnout of 18.4 per cent.

Responding to his win, Cllr Walker said: “I’d said I’d hoped to be able to make a difference, so I’m delighted to have been elected.

“I’m happy to now be in a position to influence debate on behalf of the ward.”

Cllr Walker has previously said one issue of local concern he wants to address is speeding cars in Oakworth Road.

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