CANDIDATES standing in the upcoming Cumberland Council election have shared their top priorities for the ward they hope to represent. Voters will take to the polls on May 5 to elect Unitary councillors for the new authority. Candidates standing for the Cleator Moor West ward in Copeland have highlighted the main issues they hope to tackle in the area.

Rhiannon Connors, Independent


Michael Eldon, Labour

I want a safe town, with more Bobbies on the beat and a positive police presence, not only decreasing crime but also preventing it by early intervention. I will support victims and families by signposting and strengthening support services. I want an enterprising and entrepreneurial town, building consensus between public and private sectors, attracting inward investment and generating homegrown opportunities for our residents. We need to embrace tourism, culture and leisure, being proud of our past and energised for the future. I want an energised town, continuing my youth work by ensuring our children have opportunities to express themselves safely and positively. Creating holiday activities, work experience opportunities and securing funding for grassroots sports. Grassroots sports strengthen community ties, make dreams reality and inspire. Every kid remembers the dream of scoring the winning try, escaping from reality for a while. I want that feeling to last forever.

Ged McGrath, Conservative

The first of my priorities as your Cumberland Councillor will be to ensure that the £22.5m pledged by the Government is delivered. My second priority will be to ensure that the ambitious project Copeland Council has to develop an Industrial Solutions Hub on the Leconfield Industrial Estate are not held up by the transition to the new authority. This project has the potential to be a game changer to the local economy creating jobs and training opportunities as it leverages the potential of the Sellafield supply chain through a cluster approach to growing and diversification. My third priority will be to ensure that the new Cumberland authority looks after the those less fortunate and vulnerable residents by ensuring there is a transfer of learning from the highly successful social inclusion program of Copeland Council into the new authority.