News Release
Sewage dumping figures “shocking” according to LibDem mayoral candidate
25th April 2024
Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate Felicity Cunliffe-Lister has slammed the Conservatives as shocking new sewage dumping figures were revealed for York and North Yorkshire.
Conservatives have been warned of “a reckoning at ballot box” as sewage dumping rose by 130 per cent last year. The increase comes after Conservative MPs in the region voted against tough new measures for polluters like Yorkshire Water.
North Yorkshire councillor Felicity - whose council division includes one of Yorkshire’s worst-affected rivers - said: “As a family we have always swum in the river Ure, believing it to be safe and clean. It’s shocking to discover how polluted it has become – to find out how widespread sewage dumping is across the county - and it’s getting worse.”
Every constituency in York and North Yorkshire saw the duration of spills more than double in ’23, the highest being in Thirsk & Malton at 141%, and with the worst increase in counted spills being Scarborough and Whitby with a rise of 71%. The analysis is based on official data from the Environment Agency, compiled by the House of Commons Library for the Liberal Democrats. It shows sewage was dumped into York & North Yorkshire’s rivers and coast on 20,000 separate occasions over 172,000 hours in 2023.
“My manifesto pledge is to hold Yorkshire Water to account, and as a party the LibDems are calling for strict measures including replacing Ofwat with a tougher regulator, a ban on bonuses for water company bosses if their firms are dumping sewage into our water, and the declaration of a national environmental emergency. This is environmental vandalism and it has got to stop.”
One of the measures that Felicity has pledged to introduce to help control flooding in the region, will also help reduce sewage spills caused by flooding. This is her commitment to natural flood management schemes, initially for the whole of the catchment area of the Swale, Ure and Nidd. “This scheme will Slow the Flow – it holds back floodwater to reduce peak levels and releases it slowly. It improves carbon sequestration, biodiversity and agricultural yields – and in Pickering it reduced the likelihood of flooding in a year from 25% to 4%. This is working with nature not against it.”
Asked if this was going to get Yorkshire Water off the hook, she commented, “No, they still need to deliver with their infrastructure commitments and more, following years of underinvestment. As Mayor I would hold them to this. The Natural Flood Management scheme will help reduce spills at times of flooding – but we know that spills continue during dry months so this still needs to be resolved.”
Reeth Market
20th April 2024
A steep climb up to the lovely village of Reeth in the Yorkshire Dales yesterday and a visit to their weekly market - always good to see Richard Welford from Masham’s own Beavers Butchers and great to catch up with Simon Lacey from Lacey’s Cheese who used to run cheese making courses with Rosemary Shrager at our cookery school many moons ago (and is still making amazing cheese - Wensleydale and Olive a particular favourite!).
This is where remote rural life can be a struggle, issues with lack of affordable housing, rural crime and the removal of funded school transport being a common topic of conversation. This is where Community Led Housing can help provide solutions, something I am already committed to supporting in my manifesto.
Very pleased to hear of tree planting projects upstream on the edge of the moors - to help Slow the Flow, and how this can all tie in to my catchment wide pledge to reduce flooding.
Click here to read my manifesto.
Business Solutions
20th April 2024
Having supplied the Swinton Estate with 30,000 trees this year I knew that Johnsons Nurseries Ltd were a sizeable operation - but the scale of their enterprise is really remarkable! This is a third generation business that supplies the region with hardy nursery stock, and with all the tree planting I have in mind for my natural flood management schemes I am hoping they are going to be kept busy!
Catching up with Jonathan Whittemore, MCIPS, it’s apparent how the impact of Brexit has caused significant difficulties which are yet to be resolved. Costly administration and border checks are a big challenge and there are a number of ways in which I would be able to help as Mayor - working alongside the Horticultural Trades Association and with access at Westminster to lobby on their behalf. This is a significant part of the Mayor’s role - being a facilitator and collaborator, finding solutions to help both businesses and residents.
You can read more about the role and why the Mayor needs a really strong business background in my manifesto.
Stokesley Market
19th April 2024
Another day of Yorkshire sunshine, and this time in Stokesley - a nice busy market day.
Interesting to meet folk there who come all the way from Somerset, regularly, because they don’t have market towns down that way like we do! A reminder that we are lucky to live in a very unique place.
Chatting with several residents, many of whom commented on feeling a little left out - being a town so close to the border. With the right Mayor, Stokesley you will not get left behind!
Also good to chat to Paul who called by, a retired teacher, to talk about the challenges facing young people and how hard it can be to transition into working life. With my manifesto work placement schemes it would be great to see schools and businesses working together better to get students into the workplace, be inspired by work experience and make informed career choices.
CEO Sleepout UK
18th April 2024
It might be the middle of the Mayoral campaign, but it’s the CEO Sleepout on tonight at York Stadium and too important an opportunity to miss - raising funds for people facing adverse poverty and homelessness in the York area.
At least it’s stopped raining! We’re all getting bedded down for the night, am hoping for a few hours of sleep!
Well done CEO Sleepout UK for getting us here, and for YO1 Radio for their support too.
Thank you! Sleep well!
The strongest candidate to become the first Mayor of York and North Yorkshire.
16th April 2024
Market Days and Hustings
15th April 2024
During the campaign, I will be visiting market towns on market days, and setting up a stall so that you can visit me and find out more about my manifesto.
There are also numerous hustings, which you can attend (and some are recorded).
Transport and Travel
14th April 2024
The impact of losing the town bus was the main topic of conversation when I visited the Over 60 Coffee Morning in Filey today.
Sue Cowan has worked extremely hard to campaign for this to be reinstated and it was kind of her to invite me to meet those most impacted by it.
Isolation, lack of independence, expensive taxis, lack of access to shops and healthcare: when support is withdrawn for public transport this is the impact, where cost-saving measures come at a greater cost.
As Mayor, I have pledged to support the community and improve the bus network in my manifesto, and this is a route that I will reinstate.
With the support of volunteers, a community bus would provide the door-to-door service needed, and also be available for local rural villages, such as Hunmanby.
Click here to read my full manifesto.
Cleaner Waterways
13th April 2024
To be honest, Richmond and the River Swale weren't looking quite as lovely as this when I visited Save our Swale this week - it was another day of rain...
That's of concern when you are campaigning for Yorkshire Water to stop sewage spills, which are at risk of happening when water levels are high.
I enjoyed discussing this with Deborah Meara and Hilary Plews, who set up SOS last summer and have been monitoring water quality levels ever since. Establishing a designated bathing water status is no easy task, and I wish them well with this.
It was a useful opportunity to discuss my plans for a catchment-wide natural flood management scheme, to Slow the Flow and reduce peak water levels. This not only prevents flooding, but also help keep sewage out of rivers - and combine this with my manifesto pledge to invest in the bio-economy and reduce the use of fertilisers and we should see water quality improve too.
Retail Matters
12th April 2024
A morning in Harrogate, looking at the High Street in particular. Had some great conversations with retailers, and here I am with Robert Ogden of Ogdens Jewellers and Liz and Richard Hawkes of Watermark Gallery.
My pledge to regenerate the High Street is well received here. There are empty units above the shops, a need to improve the public realm, and for the town to have a clear retail identity. The High Street retail offer needs to reinvent itself - I’ve seen how it can work and know how it can be done.
Really loved having a sneak preview of Jason Hicklin’s exhibition at the Watermark. He trained under Norman Ackroyd RA and you can see the influence - was very tempted by some of his absolutely lovely Yorkshire coastlines!
News Release
Don’t be fooled by ‘grand promises’ warns LibDem mayoral candidate
11th April 2024
Grandiose headline-grabbing spending plans could transform Yorkshire mayoral role into an unsustainable vanity project, according to the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Mayor of York & North Yorkshire, Felicity Cunliffe-Lister.
The word of caution comes after Conservative candidate Keane Duncan added the purchase of a multi-million pound hotel in Scarborough to his promises of free town centre car parking as part of his mayoral campaign.
“As a hotelier myself, spending tens of millions of pounds of taxpayer’s money to buy and refurbish a hotel makes for a great headline, but also makes absolutely no sense at all. This isn’t how you generate growth and create high-skilled jobs,” says Felicity. “Putting the mayor’s office into direct competition with the hundreds of people who make their living in Scarborough’s hospitality sector would be a clear misuse of public funds.
“York and North Yorkshire deserves better than a career politician and former tabloid journalist with the Daily Star – Keane Duncan knows how to make headlines, but there is no substance behind the PR spin, says Felicity.
“Uncosted proposals like this, and the ‘free parking’ offer make a mockery of the funding pot allocated to the mayor. This money is allocated to promote long-term sustainable growth, lower environmental impact, and upskilling our workforce to support clear and present skills gaps in the region, not fund a vanity project,” adds Felicity.
“The mayor needs to use their voice and budget wisely, and undeliverable promises committing tens of millions of pounds of public funds will leave local people disappointed if they believe these smoke-and-mirrors pledges.”
Felicity believes that seed-funding is the most appropriate way of growing North Yorkshire’s economy, investing in businesses and services that will create long-term growth for the region. “With money no longer coming from Europe to help support growth – and the infrastructure to facilitate development – the Mayoral fund becomes a crucial part of a growth process. Handing money back to local authorities to subsidise parking achieves very little. Using seed funding to attract large-scale investment will create jobs, and to help leverage government funding will provide a huge return on investment.”
Felicity’s vision includes prioritising investment and research that will help the region achieve its carbon zero target – an ambitious goal she has achieved on the 20,000 acre Swinton Estate – using technology to create low carbon homes that reduce carbon emissions and heating bills to make living in them more affordable.
“With the right person in the role, the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire could have a huge, positive and long-lasting impact on the whole region. I would urge people to come to the polling booths on Thursday 2 May and choose a candidate who will deliver on promises. I believe I am the only candidate with the skills, drive and proven track record to do this,” she concludes.
Film & Media Industry
11th April 2024
I’m back in York again, but this time for a meeting with Cherie Federico.
21 years ago she launched her highly successful Aesthetica Magazine, dedicated to media art and culture. Since then the company has grown from strength to strength and now hosts the annual Aesthetica Art Prize and the Aesthetica Short Film Festival, a BAFTA qualifying festival.
We spoke a lot about the challenges of following a creative career path, and the lack of jobs available in the region. To help resolve this Cherie is launching a Creative Business Skills Academy, to enable business growth and job creation in the media and theatre sector. As Mayor, I would be proud to support this excellent initiative.
I was also reminded of another reason this year is special for York; not only is it the year of the first mayoral election for the city but it is also the 10th anniversary of the city being a UNESCO City of Media Arts. This is a status that we all need to know more about. Cherie is doing her bit with her UNESCO Expo which will showcase 10 enterprises from both York and North Yorkshire – and it's great to see the benefits of the region as a whole working together.
Film & Media is one of the sectors I have identified in my manifesto that have the most potential for growth and job creation. As Mayor, this is a sector I would champion and where I would drive investment. With entrepreneurs as inspirational as Cherie, I'm all the more convinced that this could be a real trailblazer for the region.
Mayoral Hustings
10th April 2024
Five hustings out of the way and 11 more to go!
I really recommend you attend these if you are able to, or watch the recordings afterwards (this doesn’t apply to all) - most have a particular focus, and it gives you a chance to see the candidates fielding questions on the spot.
Malton Voices
7th April 2024
Had a great day in the sunshine at Malton market yesterday, out on the campaign. Many conversations were to be had about lack of affordable housing and the limited bus and train services - all issues I can help resolve as Mayor.
Malton is blessed with some excellent independent shops, these are what gives the town its vibrant and distinct character. It was lovely to visit Liz Kemp at Kemps, such a treasure trove of artisan products. Also great to catch up with the team at Environmental Art and to hear about plans for their St Clement festival in November.
These are the kind of events I will support across the region as Mayor, to help regenerate the High Street, bring communities together and attract visitors to the area.
Yorkshire Coast Matters
5th April 2024
As it’s a Friday, where better to be than in Whitby for fish and chips, and a visit to meet Joe Redfern at the Whitby Lobster Hatchery.
This section of the coast lands more lobster than anywhere else in Europe, and the fishing industry is a significant employer in this part of the region.
Joe doesn’t fish himself, but he recognises that as catches increase, over-fishing cycle is almost inevitable. He can see that if the stock can be maintained, by replacing the number of lobster landed, the long-term future of the industry is much improved.
There are 100,000 lobsters landed in Whitby every year, so this is how many he needs to match!
It was great to see his hatchery and visitor attraction, a great asset for the town. We had a good chat about the need for more investment in the harbour and the Fish Market, his ambitions to hatch other crustaceans, and to have hatcheries elsewhere on the coast.
All the best Joe, it’s the enterprise that would have my backing as Mayor.
Yorkshire Hospitality
4th April 2024
Hospitality is one of the biggest sectors in the York & North Yorkshire economy - and one that achieves excellence even in today’s current challenging conditions. I enjoyed meeting up with Adam Wardale from Hospitality Association York to discuss the opportunities and challenges both within York and beyond.
The single biggest issue that Adam needs addressing is the unregulated growth of the holiday let market. This has grown at quite a pace in York - with the equivalent of 1500 beds currently in the City, which would amount to ten 150 bed hotels!!
Whilst there is definitely a place for holiday lettings, the impact that this has on the provision of housing is profound and the hospitality sector can’t function without staff! The limited bus provision between inner and outer York is another issue to resolve that would need to be delivered by the new integrated public transport system.
As Mayor, I will be campaigning for national policy to introduce better controls of holiday lets - to limit the number of houses, to be better regulated - and for the proposed increase in business rates to remain within the region and reinvested.
There’s also a lot to look forward to - it’s not all bad news!
With the new LVEP status, this is a brilliant opportunity to promote the region as a whole for the first time. With my background as a hotelier - this is my patch! - I would drive forward the ambitious strategy and vision that the region needs.
My Mayoral Manifesto
3rd April 2024
Now that the Mayoral campaign is in full swing, my manifesto is live!
It’s here on this website and you can also read about it in the Yorkshire Post.
At 26 pages long it sets out my plans, pledges and ambitions for the region with specific focus on four themes:
The Way we Live, Our Waterways, Creating Growth & Prosperity and Our Natural Potential.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss any of these issues further.
Contact Felicity
Email: felicity@felicity4mayor.co.uk
Tel no: 07592 114 800
Proposals to dual the A64 near York ‘on a knife-edge’
30th March 2024
On a knife edge and a pipe dream…
That’s not much comfort for the residents, businesses and visitors who use this congested road. The decision may be made before the Mayoral election - but this is where a Mayor would take the lead and represent the interests of the county at a national level.
Having spoken to those who are most impacted by the congestion, those with concerns about the emissions and those who have been campaigning for years, this can’t be left to hang in the balance.
Click here to read the York Press article
A64 congestion, picture credit: Frank Dwyer
A Yorkshire brand
29th March 2024
The strength of the Yorkshire brand was key for Charles Fawcett last week when he was in Japan to launch his Twisted landrovers, and it paid off nicely! Good to catch up with Charlie about this at his amazing Thirsk showroom this week - a great business that has grown over the years (about the same age as mine), and been at the heart of the development of this sector in the Thirsk region.
A Yorkshire brand : the strength of this cannot be understated and it needs to be carefully protected with a champion to promote it. That’s a job for the Mayor!
Good also to see the circular economy concept in practice at this level, nothing going to waste - refurbishing old vehicles, giving them a whole new lease of life. It’s very far removed from the average lifespan of a modern vehicle (13 years), a leader in the field.
Rail Travel
28th March 2024
A cup of tea over a copy of RailWatch magazine with Graham Collett of Rail Future - today is all about our trains……
The Yorkshire region represents 20 rail user groups, which is an indication of how important the rail network is to us. There’s one route that Graham would really like to see put into place, above all others, and that is the Skipton to Colne route. I know this has local support, from the constituency meetings I attend as a Councillor - it will provide a route into Yorkshire from the west connecting Burnley to Leeds and Bradford, and also speed up rail freight. With a business case in place, it was disappointing that the recent budget didn’t make any provision for this scheme - so it will need me as Mayor to lobby to see this come into effect.
There’s also a relatively easy win, that I’ve already pledged to lobby for, and that’s the addition of a second platform at Malton. This is enable more trains on the line from York through to Scarborough, so more than the current hourly service - and at the same time I’d be pushing the case for more evening services for Malton and Scarborough to help drive growth in the night time economy in both towns.
The Official Mayoral campaign has launched
27th March 2024
I think Wordle might be on to something! Did they know it was the official campaign launch date yesterday?
I didn’t want to spoil it for the Wordlers (so I had to wait until this morning) but who got it??!!
I’m not even going to pretend this is my brilliance - all thanks go to my family support team!
Harrogate Advertiser article
26th March 2024
A “life of hands-on experience” sums up this article about my Mayoral candidacy well.
Please read on for a focus on my aspirations for the Harrogate area on election, and my legal skills and business career background.
Thank you Graham Chalmers for your thoughtful piece, it was a pleasure to meet you.
Third Sector
25th March 2024
It’s called the Third Sector, and its enormous contribution is often not fully valued. This is the huge network of charities, community groups and social enterprises that operate throughout York & North Yorkshire.
I recently visited Horticap, here I am with the Operations Manager Phil Airey. He was just about to be interviewed by Look North as Horticap are celebrating their 40th anniversary - many congratulations!!
This is one of many organisations that are run with a small salaried team and a very large network of volunteers. Their cafe and garden centre delivers a lifeline to the students that attend their courses - some of whom may enter the workforce, but for all students this gives them independence and a sense of purpose, where they learn the essential life and social skills to help them cope with the day to day. The funding available barely covers the cost of running the courses - so Horticap rely heavily on fundraising and donations.
As Mayor, the real value of the Third Sector will be fully acknowledged and supported - we can’t manage without them.
Save our High Streets
22nd March 2024
I always enjoy an excuse to get to the coast and meeting up with the Scarborough Business Ambassadors was the perfect opportunity!
This is a town with exceptional potential, and yet at the same time several issues that really need addressing.
One of these is the decline of the High Street and I took this photo as I was leaving just to illustrate the problem in a nutshell.
I could have taken these photos on any North Yorkshire high street of an evening: whilst Scarborough has a housing shortage and more than its fair share of AirBNB properties, we have floors of empty premises in the town centre.
Think how many local residents could be living here!!
Think how much more vibrant the High Street would feel if it was occupied!
Sorting this out just takes a Mayor who can get to grips with the issues that prevent this. I know this is a concept that works and how to deliver it - and in most cases, it boils down to careful negotiations with the landlord and not much more than an extra door and a staircase.
A more vibrant High Street leads to busier shops, generating prosperity at the same time.
Thank you Simon Bull and Richard Grunwell for your time, I look forward to catching up again on this soon!
Natural Solutions to Slow the Flow
21st March 2024
Whilst I’m not a career politician - I’m a politician with a career - it was quite exciting to find myself sitting next to Tim Farron at the LibDem conference at the weekend talking about this stuff: water.
Flooding has become all too familiar a situation in York, and many of the towns and villages upstream of there.
There’s a natural solution to this that has been overlooked for too long: natural flood management. There are pockets of funding that are chipping away at this but nothing on a catchment-wide scale that is really needed to deliver results - and this is what York needs.
My pledge as Mayor is to fund and co-ordinate an upstream flood management scheme for the Rivers Ure, Nidd and Swale that will “slow the flow”, holding back the floodwaters to stay below the flood peak.
Not only will this benefit the downstream villages and towns, and the city of York, but also improve biodiversity, capture carbon and be financially viable for farmers.
Thursday 2nd May Matters!
20th March 2024
Meet Trouble.
This has to be the highlight of the campaign so far, I hope he is enjoying the limelight!
Here I am with another star: Julian Norton at Thirsk Veterinary Centre, his veterinary practice in Thirsk. I'm sure you will recognise him from Channel 5's long-running Yorkshire Vet series.
I had a good catch-up with him, his wife Anne and their team - mainly talking about the fact that we have this enormously significant election coming around the corner and no-one knows about it.
We are all hoping that the press and TV will swing into action once the campaign officially starts (26th March)
- but just in case they don't it's 2nd May and yes, it matters!!
Developing Sustainable Solutions
19th March 2024
The potential of the bio-economy is one that really inspires me at the moment.
Creating jobs, boosting the economy and developing sustainable solutions.
Led by Ian Graham at the University of York, BioYorkshire is a pioneering research group, driven by the ambition to deliver public good.
Really enjoyed my time with Ian discussing the ways in which produce that farmers can grow can be used to replace petro chemicals in manufacturing, create energy, be used in construction, reduce the need for fertilisers - and I suspect that’s just the start.
The agricultural sector is facing enormous challenge at the moment. These solutions will play an important role in regenerating farming, delivering food security and achieving our net zero goals.
So where does the Mayor come into this?
It’s a mix of finding the funding, promoting the potential, getting the private sector on board, engaging with the farmers and pooling resources - that’s the gap for me, as Mayor, to fill!
Insider magazine
18th March 2024
"A strong chance of winning..."
I'd certainly agree with that, Insider Magazine!
A bit of reading for a Monday, before the week catches up with you - how the Swinton Estate business came about (although we didn't "take on" Swinton Park, we're still paying off the loan now!), my legal background and key policies and things that matter.
Innovative Small Businesses
16th March 2024
There’s a lot in the press at the moment about SME growth: we know small businesses drive innovation and can shape our economy but, due to their size, can lack resilience and be more susceptible to uncertain economic conditions.
We need more “Productivity Heroes” as the recent Goldman Sachs report describes them - businesses that become more productive as they grow.
As Mayor I’d be addressing what the GS report recommends: the need for better access to finance and reform of business rates are two elements that I am already well aware of.
Today I’m introducing you to Kit Lacey who set up eDub - first as an electric campervan hire company, but then expanded into campervan EV conversion services.
He has been fine-tuning his workshop systems to be at the point, now, of scaling up and expanding. Like every SME, cashflow is everything, and can really hamper growth and he’s not qualified for any of the funding schemes currently available.
As Mayor, my business support fund would be identifying these types of gaps, where growth is just out of reach due to lack of finance, to deliver the Productivity Heroes that the economy needs.
Striving for Better Public Transport
15th March 2024
Thank you Brandon Jones and Andrew Cullen for inviting me to come and see your brand new fleet of electric buses now serving routes in the City of York: zero carbon emissions and minimising noise and air pollution at the same time.
I’m glad to hear your power grid upgrade is (nearly) in place, which will allow all 90 buses to be charged at one time.
Your solar panels are also doing a good job delivering the power needed to your workshop - where high-tech EV skills are now in demand.
It was also really encouraging to hear that your new approach to flexible shifts has paid off, enabling more women drivers to join the workforce and helping you to deliver a service to meet the needs of residents and visitors to the City.
The Enhanced Partnership Plus arrangement will enable the new Mayor to have a much better understanding of the viability of routes, with open book accounting, and control of timetables to ensure an integrated service is provided across the City and County.
I would be taking a very close look at this (and the jury is still out when it comes to franchising) - but at the end of the day, I’d be delivering a more reliable, frequent and better-connected public transport service whichever way works best.
One thing is for sure, the bus services in York that are currently under threat will get the reprieve they need - these routes won’t get left behind.
Skills for the Future
14th March 2024
Skills, skills, skills: we need a ready-to-work workforce!
This is one of the key areas where the Mayoral role can have most influence, making sure that adult training is fit for purpose, inspiring school leavers to engage with what’s on offer, and making sure the trainee is properly prepared for the working environment. Without this in place, businesses and productivity will suffer, and young people won’t learn the skills needed for secure and rewarding employment.
If I could pick up a blueprint for apprenticeship skills, this is where I would start: Graham Ratcliffe and his Construction Skills Village in Scarborough. This is what the working environment is really like, with skills taught by industry tradesmen on a year-round rolling programme.
Enjoyed talking to Graham about the support needed to develop training in solar and heat pump technology - that I would deliver as Mayor - and the ways in which this model of training could be used in industries that are currently short-staffed due to lack of skills, such as chefs in hospitality.
Yorkshire Business
13th March 2024
Had a great time catching up with Chris Bax of Bax Botanics today, a great North Yorkshire success story.
We first met when he was running his Taste the Wild foraging courses, and he has been to Swinton many times over the years running courses for our guests and chefs. The launch party for Bax Botanics was hosted by me at Swinton over six years ago, and it’s now exported all over the world and has won numerous awards.
It is a zero-alcohol botanical spirit, distilled using a secret recipe of herbs, roots, berries and flowers to produce their Sea Buckthorn and Verbena ranges.
Here we are chatting at his woodland classroom, back where his story started!
Chris has had great support finding export markets but still struggles in the UK market with getting past wholesalers and their minimum order thresholds - this is not an unfamiliar procurement issue.
As Mayor, my focus would be on breaking down these barriers to enable North Yorkshire produce to connect with the local market, enabling better supply routes and establishing a trusted and recognised brand.
BioEconomy
12th March 2024
Following on from yesterday’s Learning through Land conference in Harrogate - where we heard from industry leaders on food policy, green energy, the circular economy and new market opportunities - it’s off to the coast for me to see the bio-economy in action.
This is Wave Crookes on board Southern Star at Scarborough. He was just about to head offshore to inspect his seaweed farm. There was SO much to talk about.
Firstly his pioneering vertical farming technique that can be positioned further off-shore, withstand storms and minimises the disruption to fishing.
Secondly all that the seaweed can deliver both in way of improving biodiversity and storing carbon and also (if harvested) how that carbon can be locked in construction materials, be used as a biostimulant to reduce the use of fertiliser and even used in cattle feed to reduce methane emissions.
There is so much potential!
It is all at the early development and testing stage - good luck SeaGrown with your very exciting venture.
As Mayor I would definitely be on board with supporting this development to the next stage and beyond!
Rural Hustings
11th March 2024
Well that's the first hustings of the campaign out of the way!
Kindly hosted by the Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network - the debate today was about the challenges facing farming, connectivity, planning, food standards and procurement amongst many other issues!
Thank you to David Hall from the NFU and John Harding from the Rural Network for facilitating.
Community Matters
9th March
Met with Andy Studdart today to discuss the vital work that Ryedale Food Aid CIC delivers, with the distribution of Food Share produce to the local network of food fridges and the Next Steps cafe in Malton.
Here he is in his warehouse, and his message is a very simple one - he needs more food. Demand is outstripping supply at the moment, and some who can’t access the scheme are going hungry. He isn’t alone, I’ve had a very similar conversation recently with Resurrected Bites in Harrogate about this.
This reminds me of my pledge to deliver emergency food parcels. For those that the Ryedale Free Fridge, Pickering Foodshare and Kirkbymoorside Community Fridge can’t reach - which is likely to be the more isolated and vulnerable in the community - I would as Mayor deliver emergency food and help find ongoing solutions.
Thank you Andy for all that you are doing to help keep the community going.
Ambitions for our region
8th March 2024
Plans for a 450M film studio in Sunderland creating 8000 jobs, and the world’s largest tidal scheme on the River Mersey creating clean energy for the next 120 years - both schemes to be led by Regional Mayors.
York and North Yorkshire it’s not long now, it will be your turn soon and I’d love to be bringing deals with this scale of ambition in for you!!
Also great news to see that the A66 at long last getting the upgrade it so badly needs - it’s a vital corridor connecting East and West.
Rural Diversification
8th March 2024
Celebrating International Women’s Day with Rowan Simms of Waterfall Farm in the Yorkshire Dales.
The pioneering and award-winning pig farmer has recently diversified their family farm, opening a butchery and charcuterie business, Masham Pigs. Here she is with Peaches, Tulip and Gooseberry.
The Simms family are well known for breeding quality pedigree rare breed pigs and have three types in their herd; Large Blacks, British Saddlebacks and Gloucestershire Old Spots.
The whole family gets involved in training and showing the pigs throughout the Summer at agricultural shows across the North of England.
Rowan says "Showing our pigs is a great shop window for us, as well as an important way of engaging people with the conversation work we are involved in. By adding value through our pork and charcuterie, we can provide high-quality local meat as well as directly help protect and promote our native British pig breeds".
It was great talking to Rowan about the challenges facing small rural businesses, the scarcity of butchery skills (and the closure of abattoirs as a result), and the pleasure she gains from engaging children with the concept of "farm to fork" through the numerous school visits that take place on the farm. It's a wonderful way of inspiring and encouraging young people to explore opportunities in food production and agriculture, as well as encouraging them to get outdoors and enjoy the countryside.
Masham Pigs is a fine example of Yorkshire innovation at work, and a vital part of the economy that I would (as Mayor) lend my full support.
The Green Revolution
7th March 2024
Thank you CeraPhi Energy and Third Energy for the tour of your geothermal project.
Who would think a pipe this size could be drilled 2km into the ground, withstanding temperatures of 90 degrees, to bring heat to the surface?
There’s no need to connect to the grid and it’s underneath all of us - you could say it’s on tap!
Lots of great ideas and opportunities here, using the heat for industry, greenhouse horticulture, schools, swimming pools, and district hubs...
We’ve had the Industrial Revolution, now’s the time for Yorkshire to take centre stage in the Green Revolution, alongside and not behind Hull and Teesside.
As Mayor, my fund for green economic growth would be used to support more of these projects, to help seed fund large-scale investment to deliver clean and cheaper energy, to deliver economic growth and help us achieve our net zero ambition.
Natural Flood Management
6th March 2024
From Source to Sea: our water system is in itself under threat and yet at the same time is a flood threat to our agricultural land and our communities.
Not enough has been done to understand the benefits of working with rather than against nature - but the pioneer who has been driving this forward is Mike Potter in conjunction with Forest Research, the research agency of the Forestry Commission, on their Slowing the Flow project.
Had a great day with Mike looking at some of the 167 upstream leaky dams and the tree planting schemes that have helped to minimise the incidence of flooding in Pickering from 25% to 4% in any year.
What these measures do is help hold flood waters back upstream, reducing the peak flows - but there is also a biodiversity benefit, and as the water travels downstream more slowly the water is better filtered and carries less silt (which would otherwise be deposited downstream on farmland).
Of course, we all know that our sewage system can’t cope in flood conditions, so controlling sewage spills would be another huge benefit.
This pioneering project has demonstrated these measures work.
As Mayor, my goal would be to scale up: to create catchment-wide projects to pull in greater levels of investment, compensate farmers where existing schemes don’t and deliver greater benefits to the region.
Thank you Mike and the Forestry Commission for showing us the way forward!
Tourism Strategy
4th March 2024
Thank you Charlotte Gale (Knaresborough Chamber) for my tour up and down and around the sights of Knaresborough!
The view from the castle, as you can see, is breathtaking - and literally so, if you have just climbed up the steps!
Not every visitor gets this far and more’s the pity...
I’m hoping the feasibility study into the cliff lift and other solutions comes up with a proposal that’s really groundbreaking and forms part of the attraction - that I, as Mayor, could help come to fruition.
Also really enjoyed our chat about the quirkiness of our market towns and how our tourism strategy needs to really embrace this authenticity.
Knowing the tourism sector as well as I do, I have so many ideas for how I could as Mayor help support this key industry and enhance our brand!
Circular Economy
2nd March 2024
Went around in circles today with Sue Jefferson!
Malton is Sue’s blueprint for how the circular economy in market towns could bring about environmental, social and economic benefits.
Her approach is at grassroots level, acknowledging that we all want to do the right thing but sometimes life just gets in the way.
Building on the success of the town’s Upcycling Shop, she now has her sights set on Community and Business Enterprise Hubs.
This initiative has great potential for delivering positive change and regenerating communities - well done Sue!
The plans for the town’s net zero Community Energy Hub are also very exciting, delivering off-grid cheap energy and recycling waste at the same time.
Finding the right investment and grants are quite a challenge - just the sort of thing I’d be happy to help with if elected Mayor, with an eye on scaling these types of projects up to benefit other communities.
Thank you Number Twelve in Helmsley for your delicious coffee and cake!
Mayoral Candidate's pledge to tackle food poverty
29th February 2024
Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, the LibDem candidate in the York & North Yorkshire's Mayoral elections, has announced her campaign pledge to tackle food poverty in the region.
Her zero-tolerance approach is driven by her key deliverable policy to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for residents. The commitment will ensure that food banks are adequately supported to continue with the essential service that they provide and that for those who can’t access the food banks a county-wide emergency distribution system would ensure no one goes without.
“At the time of the 2019 election there were more food banks than McDonalds, and the situation has worsened since then” commented Felicity, noting that the Trussell Trust’s latest accounts show falling income against demand increasing by 560% “Food Banks are now commonplace. High-interest rates and the cost of living crisis is forcing many to go without food, even where they might have a full-time job.”
The emergency distribution system would be coordinated by the Mayoral Office, with a team of volunteers assisting with delivery. Assessments will identify immediate needs and those in crisis will be referred for further support. "Isolation and loneliness are significant issues, particularly post Covid. This scheme would not only alleviate hunger but create a community lifeline for those most in need."
Malton Enterprise Park
28th February 2024
Really enjoyed my trip to Malton Enterprise Park to meet Shaun Swinburn.
What a fantastic addition to the business scene for Malton!
From hot desk office space to light industrial units and fully serviced office suites - with great vision for creating a community working environment.
Transport Funding
27th February 2024
Big announcements yesterday about £50M per year for seven years from '25, to fund transport within the combined authority of York and North Yorkshire - just waiting for the briefing to assess if this amounts to cut backs in other areas and to what extent strings are attached...
This could mean good news for the rural bus network that urgently needs more support after years of cut backs.
Thank you, in the meantime, to John Slaughter and Rev Ian Ring at HarBus, Chris Nash of Dales and Bowland Community Interest Company and Colin Speakman, Friends of Dales Bus for all your really helpful background information on the challenges facing the operation of a rural bus network today and all that needs to be addressed to ensure that an integrated public transport system really works for us all.
Active Travel
26th February 2024
Enjoyed a brew with the Harrogate & District Cycle Action Group, discussing their commitment to safe cycling and improving routes in the area.
In particular, their frustration with the Otley Road scheme.
At the same time, safe routes attract more cyclists - the Harrogate / Ripley Greenway: 196,000 cyclists in a year, well done them!
As Mayor I’d be supporting active travel and enabling more people to walk and cycle safely.
Creative Industry in York and North Yorkshire
25th February 2024
Who would know that the Game of Thrones is behind this door?!
What an amazing York business, going from strength to strength.
Thank you Kit Monkman for your time showing me all that your very creative business achieves.
As Mayor, I’ll help fill the skills gap that you’re facing - and also champion York as the UNESCO City of Media Arts that it rightly is.
Business Support
24th February 2024
What an honour to be invited to the inaugural meeting of the FORUM Harrogate group.
This is the brainchild of Phyl Hughes, Craig Buchanan and Ian Matthew and I wish them every success.
It’s networking with a difference, a forum for sharing ideas and resource, with an element of education - in essence “the Board you can’t Afford” - which I can see being a lifeline for small business owners.
Good luck!!
Harrogate Convention Centre
23rd February 2024
What Harrogate Convention Centre needs is sorting out!!
Thank you Paula Lorimer and Michael Constantine for showing me around the HCC - it already delivers economic benefit to the town but it also has so much potential!
Here I am in Studio 2 - a redundant hall where 8 break-out rooms could be provided to attract large-scale conference business and bring in a large number of visitors to the region.
As Mayor, I’d be supporting straightforward and sensible commercial solutions to ensure this business runs efficiently and for the wider benefit of the town.
STEM Industry in York and North Yorkshire
22nd February 2024
Ensuring the next generation is “work ready” is the challenge facing the STEM industry today.
It’s hard for the curriculum to keep up with the fast-moving pace of change and development in this part of the economy.
This is where the National Stem Learning Centre steps in: identifying the gaps, providing training for STEM teachers and early-stage careers, sending ambassadors into schools….it’s all about working collaboratively to achieve the best results for the industry and ensuring the next generation have the skills they need for the businesses to develop.
Thank you for your time today Lawrie Peck (Partnerships Manager) - really helpful to know what’s needed and how I would, as Mayor, be able to really help support and accelerate this.
Rural Public Transport
21st February 2024
Enjoyed a delicious slice of carrot cake at The Pantry in Thirsk with Eden and Bill from Moorsbus - while mulling over how they manage to provide such a critical transport network across such a huge area.
Being able to provide an integrated transport system to York and North Yorkshire will be transformational, but it needs to be done properly to ensure remote and rural areas get the service they need.
Imagine a one-ticket service with buses that connect and link towns, villages and rail services across the whole region!
This is one of my key deliverables as Mayor!
Health and Wellness
20th February 2024
The closure of the Alpamare facility in Scarborough has been a loss to the community, it provided a health and wellness facility that the town no longer has.
The council invested heavily in this project - how is it going to be run in the future?
How will this investment be recovered?
Will the next operator be entirely profit-driven or be required to provide affordable access for the community?
Will families still go to Bridlington for a swim because it’s cheaper there - or will this be an opportunity to get the balance right for the taxpayer?
Thank you Sarah Hughes for your time today explaining the situation.
