VOTERS go to the polls on May 7 to select representatives for 13 seats in 11 wards of Craven district.

This week the nominations were published, revealing 26 candidates.

Eight sitting councillors are seeking re-election, three have decided to retire, and there are by-elections in Settle and Ingleborough created by the resignations of Robert Walker and John Clapham.

Standing down are Liberal Democrats Ralph Atkinson (Bentham), and Peter Putwain (Gargrave), and Independent Malcolm Riley (Penyghent).

Stephen Butcher, who represents Calton, has been returned unopposed, as have Carl Lis, an existing councillor, and Tory newcomer David Ireton in the Ingleborough ward.

There are some interesting battles for the remaining seats. In Skipton East a second generation of a well-known political family is bidding for a seat.

Skipton newsagent Rebecca Heseltine, daughter of Craven member Robert Heseltine, is standing as an Independent against Labour councillor Margaret Billing. Her mother, Pam, is also a former Craven councillor, and is currently mayor of Skipton.

Four candidates are fighting for the Glusburn seat, including incumbent Polly English, a Liberal Democrat, Conservative Arthur Hall, of Sutton, Labour's Simon Hurst, of Skipton, and Independent Peter Seward, of Glusburn.

Bentham sees the first election for some time with no Liberal Democrat candidate. The party has been unable to find a replacement for Coun Atkinson.

Instead it is a straight red/blue fight with Gerald Hurtley, of Low Bentham, standing on a Conservative ticket, and Terence Whitaker, of Greenfoot, Low Bentham, standing for Labour.

Long standing Settle councillor Beth Graham has a fight on her hands with three opponents for two seats.

Standing against her are Tory Helen Firth, of Duke Street, a well-known businesswoman, Settle Town Council's vice-chairman Ronald Maude, of Townhead Avenue, an Independent, and David Heather, of The Green, also a Liberal Democrat.

There is a three-way fight for Coun Riley's Penyghent seat, with Liberal Democrat Robin Goodman, of Selside, Indepedent Merrill Ham, of Giggleswick, and Tory Richard Welch, of Giggleswick, vying for honours.

In Skipton North, sitting councillor Michael Doyle, Liberal Democrat, is facing competition from previous councillor Dennis Hall, Conservative.

In Clapham ward, sitting councillor Conservative Ellen Chapman, of Austwick, faces opposition from Liberal Democrat Christine Cass, of Clapham.

Peter Putwain's Gargrave seat will be contested by Jean Harrison, of Marton Road, for the Conservatives, and Andrew Wood, of Sharphaw View, for the Liberal Democrats.

Current Hellifield representative David Crawford, Conservative, of Bell Busk, faces opposition for his seat from Liberal Democrat Glyn Edwards, of Hellifield.

There is also an election in the Craven ward of Bradford Metropolitan Council.

Four Silsden residents are lined up - Eric Dawson, Conservative, Charles de Franca Hedges, Liberal Democrat, Francis Harrison, Labour, and Frederick Hirlam, Independent.

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