Beverley Heyworth
Liberal Democrat Party
Castleton Ward
On Thursday the 5th of May this year, the electors of Castleton will go to the polls. This year’s election is different in that you all have 3 votes to cast, 3 votes that can make a real difference to how our town and our local community is shaped.
My name is Beverley Heyworth, I moved to Castleton prior to my marriage in 2015. Whilst I cannot claim to be Castleton born and bred, I am proud of the village I now call home.
I believe Castleton, as a community, has so much to offer and the potential to offer even more. My husband tells me of a time when Manchester Road used to be a thriving shopping area. With 3 banks, 4 butchers, 2 greengrocers, a shoe shop, a chemist, a post office, plus an abundance of good pubs. Whilst consumer habits have changed, and more shopping is now done online, I believe that nothing can
compare with good independent retailers. As the owner of a retail shop myself I know how hard times are for small business owners. The local businesses in our village need support, what they do not need is a council that puts new barriers to trade in their way. The proposed cycle lane and removal of short-term parking is one such measure that should be opposed, the council’s consultation on this came to the same conclusions as myself and yet the results are being ignored.
As a village, Castleton offers residents an excellent transport infrastructure, with easy access to the M62/60 corridor and a regular, albeit currently reduced, Trans-Pennine rail service. It is no wonder therefore that developers want to build new homes in and around the village. The excellent development on the Whipp & Bourne site is an example of what can be achieved if derelict brownfield sites are used. That is why I am happy to support new housing on the former Dunlop site and the old Asda / Carcraft land. I WILL NOT, however, support ANY development that takes away any of Castleton’s green open spaces. There should be NO building at Thornham, Trows or down Chadwick Lane, they are too valuable to lose.
Another reason people want to come and live in our village is because of the high quality of education provided by all our local schools. We are fortunate to have 4 high performing primary schools and 2 Senior schools serving our children, with Hopwood Hall College also on our doorstep we have an education service that caters from 4 years to 18+. As a school governor, I fully support our heads, teachers and teaching assistants and know how much hard work and dedication they put in to ensure Castleton’s young people get a strong positive start to life.
I put myself forward for election as I want to ensure that we receive the best possible service from RMBC. I am standing for the Liberal Democrats, a party with a new energetic team with fresh ideas that offers a positive vision that Castleton has needed for so long. I will not make you promises that I cannot keep on too many occasions council candidates have said what they think the voter wants to hear. I don’t want to be elected as a councillor who believes their primary role is to sit in town hall meetings, I aim to be the councillor that is accessible and willing to assist in getting the fair deal that we all deserve.
Therefore, I urge you to please vote 3 times for the team that will put Castleton first – vote for Sarah Kisa-Smith, Sajid Hashmi and myself, Beverley Heyworth. A vote for anyone else sends a message that you don’t want the dynamic change we are offering.
Beverley Heyworth
Liberal Democrat Candidate Castleton
