CAROLINE Whitaker is the Green Party candidate for the Craven Ward in Bradford Council elections on May 6.

Originally from Skipton, Caroline has lived in Silsden with her family for over 26 years. Formerly a local authority housing officer, and now a part time bookkeeper, she has always been keen to support the local community. She is a former parent governor of Aireview Infant school and served on Ilkley Grammar School PTA for nine years, including five as its chair. She is a very active member of the community being on the Community Library steering group, the Voluntary Booking Officer for Silsden Town Hall, co-founder of Silsden Campaign for the Countryside and Plastic Free Silsden and member of the annual Grand deParty team. She is also currently part of the local Emergency Planning Group which helped provide support across the ward during last year’s first covid lockdown.

Caroline said “I will continue to stand up for local people in opposing inappropriate housing developments on our green spaces. I will be a strong, independently minded voice for our area to hold Bradford Council to account. I will strive to keep residents informed about changes that affect their area and ensure they have the opportunity to respond. I am passionate about protecting and improving the local environment and keen to bring more of the community together to tackle some of these problems.”