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 Gosforth ward in Copeland have highlighted the main issues they hope to tackle in the area.

James Dickaty, Labour

I love this community and the beautiful area we live in.

Having proudly served our country in the Armed Forces for 15 years, I was elected as the Seascale and Sellafield Royal British Legion Vice President and work as a Branch Community Support Officer, helping Veterans in need within our area. I have been pleased to be homing Ukrainian Refugees and running a network of sponsors in our ward. I also work within the nuclear industry and have 25 years of nuclear engineering experience.

The cost of living will hit us hard, so we need representation to those who have the power to help.

I will hold the planning office to account to ensure that projects (including car parks) are not impacting us negatively and bring benefits to our area.

I will make your concerns and worries my own, as in such a close community of villages such as ours, what affects one of us, usually affects us all.

Mike Minogue, Liberal Democrat

Having worked in telecommunications in west Cumbria for over 30 years, my main concern is for the care of the elderly, which occupies much of my time.

There is a danger that Carlisle, far away and out-of-touch with our area, will dominate the new Cumberland authority. Our representation will be minimal and powerless in matters affecting Gosforth.

1. I will argue that Cumberland Council be managed in future from a central location, either Whitehaven or Workington, with subsidiary offices in Millom and Carlisle.

2. Countryside communities are being decimated by offcomers. Shifting the tax burden would discourage second home-owners in our beautiful local area, which has insufficient rural housing stock.

3. Our ‘detrunked’ main road (A595) is inadequate for the needs of our major employers. It requires upgrading throughout West Cumbria as a highest priority.

The opportunity to represent this outstanding area is one that I relish; my priority will be to ensure that the new Council is properly representative of south-west Cumbria.

David Moore, Conservative

I was born in Seascale and have raised my family here. I have worked in this community all my life and have served as a Parish Councillor and a Borough Councillor.

I was a Retained Firefighter with Seascale Fire Station for 42 years. Retiring in 2013 allowed me more time to devote to the community and my council work. During the last six years, I have served on the Mayor of Copeland's Executive as portfolio holder responsible for Nuclear and Corporate Services and have spent the last four years as Deputy Mayor.

As Chairman of the West Cumbria Site Stakeholder Group, I work with the nuclear industry to ensure that our community views are heard.

My aims are: • To continue to push for infrastructure improvements to both rail and road networks.

• To give our community a strong voice on nuclear issues.

• To bring investment into our villages and rural communities.