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Residents urged to have their say on 7 May

Wednesday, 6 May 2026 06:59

Residents in Ilkley will choose three councillors to represent the Ilkley & Addingham ward on Bradford Council tomorrow.

District Council Elections will take place on Thursday, 7 May and residents of the Bradford district are being urged to make sure to use their vote and make it count.

Local government elections select councillors, who are responsible for making decisions on running services in your local area. These include education, transport, planning, street cleansing, refuse collection, libraries and museums, street wardens, parks, leisure and social care.

Eighty-seven seats will be up for election on 7th May due to boundary changes. Three councillors are to be elected for each ward. This means residents will be asked to vote for three candidates to represent their ward.

Polling stations will open from 7am on Thursday, 7 May and close at 10pm. The counting and results will take place on Friday, 8 May and Saturday, 9 May.

The candidates standing in the Ilkley [and Addingham] ward are:

Conservative Party

  • Richard Michael Downey

  • Andrew John Patrick Loy

  • Jane Sellers

Green Party

  • Ros Brown

  • Ellen D'Arcy

  • Richard Wilson

Labour Party

  • Lorraine Dowson

  • John Flaherty

  • Stephen Anthony Hey

Liberal Democrats

  • Mark Fredrick Stidworthy

Reform UK

  • Ray Lenik

  • Greg Robinson

  • Craig Sanderson

The candidates standing in the Wharfedale ward, covering Menston, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Burley Woodhead, and part of Ben Rhydding are:

Conservative Party

  • Peter Sidney Cochrane

  • Bob Felstead

  • Jo White

Green Party

  • Daniel Guy

  • Lottie Kitching

  • Chris Turner

Labour Party

  • Peter Martin Iliff

  • Amanda Peters

  • Christopher Eric Steele

Liberal Democrats

  • Pauline Heather Allon

Reform UK

  • Nicholas Charles Carter

  • Ronald Harriman

  • Dan Neal

[Further details of the wards and boundaries from 7 May 2026 can be found at https://www.bradford.gov.uk/your-council/elections-and-voting/ward-maps/]

Voters are reminded to take photo ID or Voter Authority Certificate with them when voting at the polling station.  For more information on what form of ID you can use visit https://www.bradford.gov.uk/your-council/elections-and-voting/voter-id/

You can hand-deliver postal votes to a polling station in your ward on 7 May or, you can go to the Electoral Services Office, 3rd Floor, City Hall, Bradford, BD1 1HY during office hours and personally hand your postal vote to a member of the Electoral Services team. In either case, you will be required to complete a form.

There is a limit as to how many postal votes can be handed in.  By law, you can only hand in your own postal vote and those of up to five others.

If you are a campaigner, you can only hand in your own postal vote, and those of close relatives or people you provide regular care for.

Dr Lorraine O'Donnell, Returning Officer for Bradford Council, said:

“Voting is your opportunity to have your say on the issues that affect your everyday life at a local level.  Every vote matters and I would encourage everyone to exercise their democratic right to vote.”

Everyone should be able to vote with confidence and if you require support or assistance to cast your ballot this will be made available to you at the polling station.

If needed a large print ballot paper and visual aids are available at the polling station, and assistance dogs can be taken into the polling station with you.

If you have a carer or a support worker they can help you to cast your vote, or the Presiding Officer at the polling station can also help you to do this.   Any companion assisting in the polling booth will be required to complete a form.

For more information on the local elections and details of local polling stations visit  https://www.bradford.gov.uk/your-council/elections-and-voting/district-council-elections-2026/

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