THE candidates who will contest the West Didsbury by-election have been revealed.
A seat for the ward on Manchester City Council became vacant following the death of Lib Dem councillor Neil Trafford who died in a car crash at the end of November.
Four candidates, representing Labour, Liberal Democrat, Conservatives, and Green Party, will stand in the election which takes place on Thursday, January 29.
Lib Dem candidate Lianne Williams lives on Crossway in Didsbury and has been a parliamentary assistant to John Leech MP for two years.
The 25-year-old grew up in Didsbury, studied English literature at Manchester Metropolitan University, and used to be a waitress at several branches of Pizza Express.
She stood as a candidate in Chorlton during the local elections last May.
She said: "I am particularly concerned about the provision for special needs’ children at Ewing School and Lancasterian School.
"I will also campaign to bring the Metrolink extension to Didsbury.
"The money earmarked by the government in the TIF bid should stay here and we need to come up with new proposals to get improvements to public transport."
David Ellison, Labour’s candidate, has lived on Mersey Meadows in West Didsbury for ten years.
He is an architect with a particular interest in environmental and planning issues, and is a member of West Didsbury Residents’ Association.
He has campaigned on issues concerning Marie Louise Gardens and during the 1990s was a member of the Save Withington Hospital Campaign.
As a non-executive board member of the University Hospitals of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, he supported initiatives for the development of Withington Community Hospital.
The 48-year-old and his wife, Andrea, have two children aged 11 and nine, who go to St Catherine’s Primary School in Didsbury.
He was a candidate for the ward in 2007 when he took second place.
David said: "I have campaigned on several issues including the overdevelopment of flats and traffic parking problems, and am delighted to be standing as a candidate here."
Conservative candidate David Bean is a project manager for the Co-operative group and lives on Ballbrook Avenue on the border of West Didsbury and Withington.
He stood for the party at the 2007 local elections in West Didsbury and is a member of West Didsbury Residents’ Association.
He campaigns on issues such as public transport, better recycling services, and is keen to preserve the area’s heritage.
David, 25, said: "I’m passionate about campaigning for Metrolink to come to Didsbury. On January 29 the people of Didsbury have an opportunity to tell Labour to stop delaying and invest in our city’s infrastructure now."
Geoff Evans is standing for the Green Party. He has been self-employed for four years, building stages for public events, and previously was a website designer.
He has lived on Clyde Road, West Didsbury, for nearly three years, and is particularly concerned about transport and environmental issues.
He said: "I would like to bring forward the best bits of the TIF bid, such as the Metrolink extension, more cycle lanes and the express bus routes."
Neil Trafford was elected as a Lib Dem councillor for the Barlow Moor ward in 2003 and re-elected to the Didsbury West ward in 2007, taking 1,328 votes - a majority of 616 over nearest rival, David Ellison.
For the 2007 elections, Didsbury West had an electorate of 10,069 voters with a turnout of 29.2 per cent.
Manchester City Council is made up of 62 Labour councillors, 32 Liberal Democrats councillors with the Conservatives holding just one seat.
Polling stations on Thursday, January 29, will be located at Grosvenor St Aidans URC on Parkfield Road South; Ivy Cottage Evangelical Church on Barlow Moor Road; and Christ Church Parish Hall on Princess Road.
Postal votes must reach the council’s returning officer by 10pm on that date.
West Didsbury Residents’ Association is hosting a ‘Question Time’ type debate on Thursday, January 22, from 7.30pm at the Albert Club on Old Lansdowne Road, West Didsbury.
