Your Leeds local election 2018 A to Z: Garforth and Swillington

THE CANDIDATESBlunt, Joseph Samuel - Conservative Bolton, Michael Edward - For Britain Dobson, Mark David - IndependentsField, Sarah Jane - Independents Golton, Christine Mavis - Lib Dems Maloney, Annie - Labour McCormack, Suzanne Jane - Independents Midgley, Mirelle - Labour Pratt, Mark - Labour Richards, Linda Judith - Conservative Young, Jordan Luke - Conservative
By The Newsroom
Published 1st May 2018, 17:56 BST
Updated 1st May 2018, 18:01 BST
Service and memorial stone unveiled for Sgt Albert Mountain, outside the Miners Arms Garforth, Leeds...26th March 2018 ..Picture by Simon HulmeService and memorial stone unveiled for Sgt Albert Mountain, outside the Miners Arms Garforth, Leeds...26th March 2018 ..Picture by Simon Hulme
Service and memorial stone unveiled for Sgt Albert Mountain, outside the Miners Arms Garforth, Leeds...26th March 2018 ..Picture by Simon Hulme

GARFORTH AND SWILLINGTON - KEY ISSUES AND NUMBERS

As previously reported by the YEP, Garforth and Swillington could be one of the more intriguing and unpredictable wards in the upcoming local election battle.

But away from the party politics, talk on the doorstep is dominated by housing and development.

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Semi rural in nature, the ward is the fifth largest in area, but the fifth least populated of the 33 electoral wards.

Large swathes of land have been earmarked for housing on a number of sites and real fear among locals is that the infrastructure will just not be able to cope.

School places are already at a premium it is claimed - both at primary and secondary level - with children having to travel from one end of the ward to the other to get to school.

The Peckfield and Parlington development sites have been huge talking points in the area.

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Between them they will bring around 10,000 new homes to the ward and the adjoining one.

Locals refer to it as the “Garforth sandwich”.

Garforth and Swillington ward also takes in Hollinthorpe, Great Preston and Little Preston. All of these are unique and proud communities, and people want to protect them.

Locals insist it’s not about NIMBYism, but they just “don’t want to be consumed by Leeds”. Local pride was illustrated last month when a memorial stone was unveiled for Sgt Albert Mountain, a former pub landlord and war hero from the area.

Also causing real worry in Garforth and the surrounding area is an increase in flytipping.

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Some believe that the council’s introduction of a charge for collecting bulky waste has had an adverse impact for semi rural areas like this, because it’s easy for culprits to drive into country lanes between the communities and dump items at night. One local campaigners believes there has been a “spike” in incidents as a result.

Other issues being raised on the doorstep are national ones such as strains on the NHS, school cuts, transport facilities and costs.

What will win your votes in Garforth and Swillington? Email [email protected].

Related topics:Garforth