Meet the candidates for the Silksworth ward on Sunderland City Council for election on May 6

Voters are due to head to polling stations on Thursday, May 6, to re-elect or replace the holders of 28 seats on Sunderland City Council.

Bidding for the prize in Silksworth are:

Sharon Elizabeth BODDY (Liberal Democrat)

*no candidate statement or photo provided*

Chris CROZIER (Green Party)

As a resident of Silksworth, I would like to make our area cleaner and greener with more opportunities for young people and better care for elderly residents.

Our green spaces are beautiful but often badly maintained by the council.

I have arranged litter picks to improve this.

I petitioned the Post Office to keep a local collection centre so elderly and disabled residents would continue to have easy access.

I volunteer with a homelessness charity and collected shopping for residents with mobility issues during lockdown.

As a councillor I would have greater influence to work for and serve our community.

Jack Paul SIMM (Conservative Party)

I live in the area and work as an engineer.

Silksworth, Tunstall and Plains Farm (South) residents deserve a councillor who is committed to fighting their corner.

I have worked with the Conservative team to support residents on Vicarage Close suffering at the hands of a housing developer.

I have also led litter picks, reported rat sightings and had fly-tipped rubbish removed.

The area has great green spaces and parks that are in dire need of investment and maintenance, whilst other areas need action to tackle fly-tipping.

If elected, I would make these my key priority alongside delivering on the Conservatives’ local election manifesto.

I volunteer my spare time with groups that support remembrance events and help commemorate Sunderland’s war heroes.

Pat SMITH (Labour Party)

I have represented the people of the Silksworth ward for 22 years and once again I seek your support.

We live in strange times but my agenda of working for the old and young, standing against Anti-Social Behaviour, drugs use, litter, fly-tipping and dog fouling that all blight our community remains unchanged.

The Ski Centre site sits in the heart of the ward.

Responding to residents’ complaints we now have a programme of clean up utilising Community Payback, local service teams and volunteers.

Better tree management is essential and if only we could find a solution to the abandoned supermarket trolleys.

With more enforcement patrols we can protect and improve a wonderful facility.

This type of initiative will move Sunderland forward as a good place to live.

Help me, help you.

Ian WALTON (UKIP)

I am born and bred in Sunderland and, if elected, intend to do my utmost to improve the lot of its people in every way possible.

We lack so many things in this city, particularly leisure facilities.

Council Tax has risen on average twice the rate of inflation but with no discernible benefit to us and the responsibility for this should be brought to bear.

I think it is patently obvious that we need change, Labour have had 50 years of power in Sunderland.

It is time to end tribal voting and vote for people who will put this city first.

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