It’s Barnard Castle town mayor versus daughter in council poll

BARNARD Castle mayor Cllr John Blissett is facing opposition for a seat on the town council from an unlikely quarter at May’s election – his daughter Kelly.

ELECTION BATTLE: Mayor John Blissett and daughter
Kelly are seeking election to Barnard Castle Town Council

Both are standing in the town’s West ward, where eight candidates are vying for the six town council seats available.
In addition to the Blissetts, Cllr Roger Peat, Cllr Belinda Thompson and Cllr Emma Rowell are current town councillors seeking re-election, while Rima Chatterjee, landlady of the Old Well Inn, Ros Evans and Richard Child have also thrown their hats into the electoral ring.
However, in the other half of the town – the East ward – there will be no contest.
In fact, not enough candidates have come forward to fill the six seats available.
That means George Hallimond claims a seat on the town council after two unsuccessful attempts during parish by-elections, alongside Alzheimer’s Society campaigner Mark Wilkes.
They will join sitting councillors Frank Harrison, Sandra Moorhouse and Judi Sutherland.
Parish elections will also take place in the Evenwood ward of Evenwood and Barony Parish.
Six spaces are available but seven would-be councillors have put their names forward: Oliver Bogle, Mike English, Barbara Maude, Barbara Nicholson, Mary Prince, Rachael Spraggon and Paul Townsend.
Ingleton will see nine faces battle it out for seven spaces and it’s all change in Ovington with seven candidates vying for five seats.
Neale Fox, Lucy Hoskins-Abrahall and Martin Saville will be gunning for votes in the Westwick ward of Whorlton and Westwick parish.
However, the Newbiggin ward of Middleton-in-Teesdale will see nobody standing with Cllr John Lawson stepping down.
There will be another election for the Newbiggin ward but it is unknown when the call will be sent out.
Co-opting may also be required in the Lynesack and Softley parish with just four people standing to fill 11 vacancies.
Brignall, Startforth, Eggleston, Egglestone Abbey, Whorlton, Winston, Lartington, Mickleton and Lunedale parishes have filled all their available seats with candidates.