Almost 200 candidates to stand in Northumberland elections

May 11 2009 by David Black, The Journal

VOTERS will have almost 200 candidates to choose from when they go to the polls next month to elect the first-ever parish councillors for Northumberland’s most heavily-populated area.

Elections will be held on June 4 to choose the 95 members of the eight new parish authorities which have been created in Blyth Valley and Wansbeck as part of the recent switch to unitary local government.

There are a total of 192 candidates contesting the seats on the new parish councils for Ashington (21 members), Blyth (16), Cramlington (12) Newbiggin (eight), Seaton Valley (nine), East Bedlington (11), North Bedlington (nine) and West Bedlington (nine).

They include scores of former Blyth Valley and Wansbeck district councillors who either stood down, failed to be selected or were unsuccessful in the elections held a year ago for the county’s new super council.

Among them are former Blyth Valley and Wansbeck Council leaders, Dave Stephens and John McCormack, as well as ex-Blyth Valley mayors Cilla Isles and Gordon Knox.

The candidates include more than 20 south-east Northumberland members of the unitary county council, who are bidding to become parish councillors as well as their roles at County Hall.