VOTERS in three North Craven parishes will be asked to choose their parish councillors as well as district representatives on May 7.

Bentham Town Council has two wards - High and Low Bentham - and there is to be an election for High Bentham as 10 people chase seven seats.

In Low Bentham, Gerald Hurtley and Russell Jackson are the only candidates for two seats, so they are automatically in.

High Bentham ward sees a number of existing councillors standing again, but also the notable absences of William Joel, who has been a councillor for 52 years, and Bateman Marshall, who has notched up 33 years service.

However, Mr Joel's daughter, Wendy Heigh, of Summerhill, is standing, as is Mr Marshall's son, Thomas, of Low Bentham Road, both hoping to continue their family traditions.

Other candidates include existing councillors mayor Jane Preston, deputy mayor Wendy Dowbiggin, Margaret Hayton and Jean West.

Also standing are Keith Cowling, of Tweed Street, Margaret Green-Hughes, of Robin Lane, Jennifer Lister, of Tatterhorn Road, and James West, of Lairgill.

Burton-in-Lonsdale Parish Council is facing an election, again with 10 candidates fighting for seven seats.

The candidates are Chistopher Dodson, of High Street, Burton, John Hartley, of Westhouse, Kathlyn Holburt, of Low Street, James Jackson, of High Street, Gordon McLeod, of The Barn, Pamela Parker, of Brookland, Kathleen Salrein, of High Street, Robert Swallow, of Duke Street, Ailsa Taylor, of Greta Heath and William Taylor, of Brentwood Farm.

Eight people are battling it out for the seven seats on Clapham-cum-Newby Parish Council.

They are Maurice Brown, of Riverside, Clapham, Edward Dawson, of Bleak Bank, James Garth, of Keasden, Thomas Lund, of Cross Haw Lane, Anthony Macauley, of Sunnybank Cottages, Eileen Plumridge, of Station Road, Valerie Potter, of Bridge Cottage, and Sheila Robinson, of Scalemire.

Gargrave parish is also having an election.

The 10 candidates for nine seats are Margaret Carr, of Mark House Lane, Gargrave, Stephen Cuthbert, of Eshton Road, Rick Faulkner, of The Bailey, Skipton, Veronica Fletcher, of Church Street, Ellen Harrison, of Marton Road, Terence Holmes, of Ivy House Gardens, John Maud, of Neville Road, Joseph Simpson, of Marton Road, Stewart Smith, of Smithy Croft Road, and Andrew Wood, of Sharphaw View.

All other parish councils in Craven are not having elections because there are not enough nominees to force a ballot.

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