On March 12th Voters in Penrith South will head to the polls
to elect a new Westmorland and Furness Councillor in a By Election following the
resignation of one of the two former ward councillor in January.
The by election will see one for four candidates elected to serve for just over a year until May 2027 when all Westmorland and Furness Councillor seats will be up for election with the Penrith South Ward going from two councillors to three from May 2027.
All four candidates had been invited to take part in a public hustings in Penrith to answer your question in person as only two candidates accepted the invitation to take part in the hustings event it was unable to go ahead.
However a local a 'meet the candidates Q&A' will take place at Castletown community centre next Thursday (March 5) at 7pm - doors open from 6:30pm with two of the four candidates attending.
One of the organisers behind the meet the candidates Q&A event, Jeff Thomson of the Fresh AIR for Penrith campaign, said : "Westmorland and Furness Council is the environmental health, highways and planning authority for the area. It is, therefore, important electors have the opportunity to listen to, and question, their potential new councillor about these and other issues. Only, when they know the person and what he/she stands for, and their commitment to the local area including the people they are on the council to represent, can electors make a fair and balanced choice."
Penrith.Town invited all four candidates to introduce themselves and set out why voters should consider voting for them to be the new Westmorland and Furness Ward councillors for Penrith South on the 12th of March.
The following is by each candidate or their agent in their own words.
The Green Party candidate is Emilia Louise Hoffmann.
Emilia lives in Penrith South. She was born and went to school in Penrith
and has lived all her life in the Penrith area.
She studied IT in Carlisle and has since worked mostly in Penrith,
including for Penrith Building Society.
Emilia has put a lot of time into supporting her local
community, volunteering at Lazonby pool, in Lazonby school and at The Bridge
youth café in Penrith.
Emilia is a champion for diversity and inclusion. She helped to found the Diversity, Equity and
Inclusion committee at Penrith Building Society and pushed for inclusivity
training. She actively supports
Palestine solidarity, anti-racism, LGBTQ+ rights and climate action.
Emilia says, "I will listen to residents about their
hopes and needs for our area. I want to help improve life for all in Penrith
South, especially those who are most marginalised".
Her top priorities are:
Listening to residents and keeping them informed
Revitalising youth spaces
Safer roads - solving speeding and parking problems
Better, cheaper public transport and safe cycling routes
Protected and improved green spaces and play areas
Truly affordable, high quality, energy efficient housing
Increased community resilience to climate change
The Reform UK candidate is Michael John Houston
MBA.
I have a strong local connection, living on the Woodberry
Heights estate in Carleton since 2019
I have a strong business background, working for the past 20
years, as a Managing Director of a local Cumbrian company , but as someone in
charge of the local residents group on social media, I am also active in the
community, working with local councillors and the community to facilitate the
adoption of the Village Hall located in my neighbourhood, together with other
local initiatives such as road improvements etc.
If you feel excluded or ignored, please come out and vote.
There is a strong desire for change in Penrith, a change
from the incumbent Lib Dem council at County level , and there is a need for
councillors who are pragmatic, skilled at stakeholder engagement and
negotiation, and who can bring real business and life skills to deliver change
for the Penrith South ward
Let’s kick out the Liberal Democrats, who are notorious for
refusing to hold ward surgeries, and elect a councillor who will face issues,
and the public, head on.
I am committed to holding surgeries regularly in the
community, resolving the ongoing issue of the Penrith Pong, and reining in the
overspend which has been caused by W and F council’s reckless vanity projects
and waste- Voreda House, by way of example, cost £7 million and rising, and is
not fit for purpose
The council is now £40 million in debt and this will only
get worse unless YOU vote for change
As someone from a military family with a strong business
focus, I look forward to bringing a practical and efficiency based approach to
W and F council, it won't be easy and it will take time, but the time is right
for change, and it's long overdue.
The Liberal Democrat candidate is Barbara Jayson
I have worked as a health visitor for the NHS in Penrith
since 2020 and currently serve on the town council.
Our area faces many challenges - whether it's struggling to
see a GP or dentist, the ever-increasing cost of living, or unsafe streets due
to anti-social behaviour or speeding cars.
We all know that the only way councillors or MPs can get
things done is by working alongside the local community.
If elected on Thursday 12th March, I want to bring together
residents, businesses, and councillors to make progress on the issues we face.
I want to work with others to make progress on the plans to
upgrade the A66 which will reduce congestion at Kemplay Bank, and also to
provide more things to do and opportunities for young people.
But my main focuses will be making sure that Penrith's voice
is heard when the big decisions are made in the council chamber in Kendal.
The Conservative and Unionist Party candidate is Maiki
Tolmie
My family has lived in this area for five generations. My
grandfather ran a well-known local house building firm here. I know Penrith,
and I understand the issues our town faces because I have grown up and have
strong roots here.
I am standing because I am fed up with the incompetence on
display. Since the creation of the unitary authority, the Liberal Democrats
have wasted money, raised Council Tax year after year, and failed to deal with
basic problems. We have had to stand by and watch a £6 million overspend on the
vanity project of Voreda House and pay even more to deal with its flooding issues.
Council tax continues to rise, with another 4.99% increase planned (just 0.01%
below the referendum threshold!). Our roads are in a poor state, with our
council being among the worst performing in the country. Litter and dog fouling
are back on the rise. The Penrith Pong continues to be an issue. We deserve
better.
If elected, I will scrutinise this Liberal Democrat
administration and push to stem the increases in council tax. I will support
practical steps to tackle litter, including more bins where needed – especially
in areas like Carleton Meadows – and backing community clean-ups. I will also
focus on youth opportunity, supporting skills and local jobs so that young
people like me are not forced to leave Cumbria to build their future.
Most importantly, I believe councillors should be accessible
and accountable to you – whether that is through community meetings, ward
walks, litter picking or other simple ways of staying in touch – so that your
voice is properly heard.
It is time to turn the tide. Only the Conservative Party can
properly challenge the current administration and hold it to account. If you
want change in Penrith South, vote Conservative.
As will all UK elections now voters must have a valid form
of photo ID to cast a vote on Thursday the 12th March in the Penrith
South By Election.
Examples of photo ID that is acceptable include any of the
following:
passport
driving licence (including provisional license)
Blue Badge
certain concessionary travel cards
identity card with PASS mark (Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
Biometric immigration document, including eVisas
Defence identity card
HM Armed Forces Veteran Card
certain national identity cards
You will only need to show one form of photo ID, but it
needs to be the original version and not a photocopy. The name on your ID must
be the same name you used to register to vote.
If you do not have an accepted form of photo ID
If you do not already have an accepted form of photo ID, or
you’re not sure whether your photo ID still looks like you, you can apply for a
free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate.
Apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate on GOV.UK.
If you need any help with applying for a Voter Authority
Certificate or want to request an application form, contact our elections team
by email at elections2@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.
Then select "Add to Home Screen"
