Local election candidates Debate Warrington

Additional reporting by Dan Warren

VARIOUS issues affecting Warrington were discussed at the special local election debate involving representatives from five political parties contesting the elections on May 5.

For the second consecutive year the local election hustings event was organised by John Shipley; chair of Warrington Civic Society with warrington-worldwide Editor Gary Skentelbery chairing the debate.

The panel of candidates was made up of Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Bob Barr from Lymm, Conservative candidate for Penketh and Cuerdley Sam Baxter, Green Party candidate for Fairfield and Howley Lyndsay McAteer, TUSC’s candidate for Fairfield and Howley Cllr Kevin Bennett, UKIP’s Poplars & Hulme ward candidate Trevor Nicholls, and Labour’s Birchwood Cllr Russ Bowden, who is also the Executive Member for Finance on the borough council.

Each candidate gave a brief outline of their position and how they came to join their particular party.

This year’s event took place at Bold Street Methodist Chapel, and many local issues were debated throughout the evening, including:

Women-only shortlists
Public Toilets in the town
Fracking
Increasing the supply of social housing
Traffic lights and pedestrian crossings
Immigration of Syrian Refugees
Engaging with voters to increase turnout

Chair of the panel Gary Skentelbery opened the debate with the question of Women-only shortlists which split the panel.

Labour’s Russ Bowden believes we should be “encouraging people with different experiences” to come forward and has “no problem with positive selection”,  while Trevor Nicholls of UKIP didn’t agree saying “it has to be the right person for the job every time”.

Kevin Bennett of TUSC believes “there is a need for it” with caution, while Lyndsay McAteer of the Green Party was in favour as it would give  “more equality”.

Sam Baxter of the Conservatives said it is “in my instinct to disagree” and all should gain their “position on merit”, while Bob Barr of the Liberal Democrats thinks more needs to be done to “create a type of politics that Women want to be involved in”.

On the issue of public conveniences being closed in the town centre on public holidays there was a general agreement on need to look at what local businesses can provide in the way of toilets for the public, as council run facilities can be expensive to maintain.

On the issue of fracking Cllr Bob Barr said he had changed his opinion over the past 12 months and now wouldn’t support it until there was scientific evidence it is safe, with Sam Baxter holding a similar view.
Lyndsay McAteer was totally opposed as a Green Party member and wants to create a Frack Free borough, and look at more renewable energy.

Kevin Bennett was also totally opposed and said he had heard of “horror stories” from America, and would also be in favour of using renewable energy more.

Trevor Nicholls held the same view that fracking needed to be proven to be safe.

Russ Bowden said 10 licenses granted for Warrington area had been allowed by the government with the council not having any control over the issue. He opposed fracking in the borough.

Social and affordable housing was another issue discussed with much agreement that more is needed.

There were also questions surrounding school academies (another divided issue), an elected Mayor, Councillor allowances and the fear of future development around the town without suitable highway infrastructure.

At the end of the evening each candidate had sixty seconds to say why people should vote for their party on May 5th.

The whole debate will be broadcast on www.radiowarrington.co.uk from 6pm on Friday evening.