Denise Craghill

Candidate for Fulford ward

She works part-time as a fundraiser for the Yorkshire Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. A qualified librarian, she has previously worked in local government in York and in Sheffield. The latter included working with a wide range of Council departments and with the voluntary and community sector.

A member of the Green Party since 1990, she has experience of campaigning on global and local issues. A founding committee member of the Friends of Fulford Cross Nature Reserve, she is also a member of the Friends of New Walk and a governor of Fulford School. She took the lead in presenting the Green Party's case against the Germany Beck development at the public inquiry. Whilst arguing that the development should not go ahead at all, she also argued for it to be as sustainable as possible if it is approved. Recently she initiated the successful campaign, including the public petition, to restore the frequency of the bus service to Fordlands Road and Heslington Lane/Broadway.

She says, 'Fulford village is a very special area on the edge of a very special city. If elected I would continue to work with local residents and the parish council to protect and improve the quality of life in Fulford. I would also welcome the opportunity to influence how the Council as a whole is managed for everyone's benefit. It could lead the way in environmental sustainability and provide better value for money services to York's residents.

In Fulford I would:

• Protect and enhance the character of Fulford village, supporting the development and implementation of the Village Design Statement.
• Support local shops and services.
• Oppose over-development in the area, eg. the current proposals for Connaught Court.
• Closely scrutinise developments on the Germany Beck site. If the development does go ahead I will monitor every stage very closely, working with local residents to ensure planning conditions are enforced and the negative effects minimised where possible.
• Work closely with the parish council to ensure the maximum coordination between parish and 'city' responsibilities.
• Work for the maximum cooperation between local schools and the community.
• Encourage the installation of more safe crossing points and safe routes to school in the ward.
• Seek to maintain and improve bus services in the area.
• Support facilities and activities for children and young people in the area, for example, ensuring that playgrounds are well maintained and that as many people as possible are aware of what is available in the ward.
• Ensure roads, pavements, cycle paths and footpaths are as well maintained as possible.
• Protect Fulford Ings not only as an SSSI but also a special area of wildness and tranquillity for local people.'