Dave Taylor

Councillor for Fishergate Ward

"I've tried to do my bit to improve life for local people and for our area during this time and I'd like to tell you a little bit more about myself."

Before working at the City of York Council for seven years, I was an IT Consultant for fifteen years in private industry. My council stint took me into every department and gave me a great deal of useful contacts. I know how this council really operates!

A further five years as Marketing Director of the Inward Investment Board provided me with a breadth of knowledge of York's traditional and emerging industries.

So what have I done for Fishergate and York?

• I am proud to have been appointed as York's first Heritage Champion by other Councillors. I'm not afraid to speak out for York's historic environment and argue for better conservation and protection for our great city.
• Until I was elected to the Council, I was the Deputy Clerk of Fishergate Planning Panel. This is the planning arm of the Fishergate Forum and makes comments on planning applications to the City of York Council. I was also a member of the York Open Planning Forum which sought to raise greater awareness of planning issues.
• Concerned about local shops and services I worked on the publication Local Shops for Local People. We must use them or lose them.
• As a core member of the Castle Area Campaign I battled hard to prevent the building of an ugly shopping mall next to Clifford's Tower. So far so good!
• A founder and committee member of York Sport & Leisure Campaign, I want to ensure that we stop the loss of sports provision from the city centre. The destruction of the Barbican Centre for private greed is a major disgrace and an immeasurable loss to all people in York. I supported the Save Our Swim campaign and Save Our Barbican's attempts to keep sports and leisure on the site.
• The Friends Of New Walk can also count me amongst its membership.
• York Indymedia also interests me and I contribute to this group providing ordinary people and community groups with free access to present news without media distortion.
• I am a founder and core member of York Residents Against Incineration. Burning our waste is a backwards step. It's polluting and a hazard to health. I'm campaigning for reduction, re-use, and recycling of waste. We can't recycle waste if we've burnt it!
• I'm a member of the national No2ID campaign against UK Identity Cards. I believe that we have given up our precious freedom if the Government's Police State can order us to "show our pass" when we are going about our own business.
• I am, naturally, a member of "York Against The War", and I marched and lobbied against the slaughter of innocent Iraqi citizens and the consequent jeopardy to British soldiers and citizens which has ensued.
• As a life member of York Civic Trust I am convinced that we all have a responsibility to fight to Keep York Special.