People

Brighouse: Kim Atkinson

I am originally from Brighouse, and for one reason and another , have lived here most of my life , so feel very invested in the place. I work as a Health Visitor and am the Infant Feeding Lead for the Health Visiting Service in Bradford District care Trust .
I’ve been a member of the Green Party for several years as I believe they are the only party committed to both social justice and environmentalism for the benefit of all and the planet as a whole.

Calder: Kieran Turner

Kieran is a long-time community activist and is passionate about protecting and restoring the environment.

He will make a brilliant, hardworking councillor who will work closely with residents and local groups to make life better in the ward.

Elland: Barry Crossland

I left school at 16 to start work as a laboratory assistant. By part-time study and research I obtianed a M. Phil in Chemistry. After 8 years in industry I switched careers into education, working for 24 years at Calderdale College. Calderdale MBC offered early retirement which I accepted. Two years later, I was re-employed by Calderdale as School Pools Manager on a part-time basis. When the PE school was closed I set up my own business Pool Water Services, which I closed a few years ago.

Greetland and Stainland: Jackie Haigh

I am the Green Party candidate for Greetland and Stainland. I have lived in Calderdale all my life and in Norland for the last 37 years. I am now retired but my working life was as a midwife and a midwifery teacher. My passion now is gardening especially growing my own fruit and veg.

I believe in social justice and improving the environment. These issues have never been more important because they are central to reducing the risks of future pandemics and climate change. I joined the Green Party a couple of years ago because they were the only party putting these issues centre stage.

Hipperholme and Lightcliffe: Catherine Graham

The breakdown of our natural environment from human activity is a critical threat to our way of life. Only the Green Party have policies to address the immediacy of the crisis.

I am standing as a candidate to offer people an alternative to the two main parties, who present similar visions of increasing inequality, environmental degradation, corporate takeover and war.

Illingworth and Mixenden: Laura Beesley

I have lived in the Calder Valley for over 30 years and one of the many things I love about it is the incredible scenery and it’s nature.

I am a member of the Green Party because we have to refocus and reprioritise our lives if we are to prevent the collapse of our global ecosystem.

We know we have this window of opportunity to try and reduce the severity of the impact and we can do things in our Borough that will make a difference.

A vote for Greens locally is also a clear message nationally about our shared concern for the environment

Luddendenfoot: Kate Sweeny

p>I’m a Speech and Language Therapist (SaLT) now working in further education after three decades in the NHS working in Hospitals and community clinics. When I’m not at work or Being Green I love to be at the Theatre, either in the audience or backstage. I grew up near York and have lived in Calderdale for over 20 years now; this gives me chances to indulge another of my favourite activities – long walks in the hills.

I was initially attracted to the Green Party by the strong combination of environmentalism and social justice. I have been a member for 18 years, and have been active for all that time.

Northowram and Shelf: Elaine Hey

I am very proud to have been chosen as the Green Party candidate for the Local Election this May. I have lived in Northowram for the last 24 years, raised my children here and see myself as a truly local candidate.

I aim to be the best possible ward councillor, visible in the community and always available to help residents whenever I can. I’m so pleased to live here in an area where we have such a strong network of community groups committed to making this a better place to live — and I intend to support them all wherever possible.

If elected my focus will be on improving our area, supporting the local community and working to protect our green spaces and wildlife. I will become part of a Green team with a strong independent voice. We’ll campaign for the right homes to be built in the right places across Calderdale.

Ovenden: Finn Jensen

I have lived in Calderdale for 30 years, the first 4 years in Todmorden and then 26 years in Blackshaw Head. It is a lovely place for walking, has a rich cultural life and a lot of good community groups.

My three main priorities are:

1. to see a fairer electoral system with some form of proportional representation
2. to address environmental issues like climate change and air pollution on a much bigger scale and much faster, and
3. to tackle social injustices, like growing poverty and inequality.

Park: Sabir Hussain

Sabir is currently a tutor, having helped countless students into their chosen careers over the years. His previous work has included 20 years’ experience in senior management roles in a local authority and the social housing sector.

Sabir has made a huge contribution to the area through his voluntary work as a non-executive director for Calderdale NHS, a board member of the Halifax Opportunities Trust and as the Chair of the Himmat Project. Through these he has helped to raise, and has brought, significant sums of money to benefit the local community and the area.

Rastrick: Andrew Bramley

I was born in Halifax and have always lived in the area, settling in the Calder valley back in 1988. I have always been a supporter of campaigns that draw attention to environmental, sustainability and social justice issues. I joined the Green Party in 2020 after becoming increasingly disillusioned with the mainstream parties and realising this was the only party putting the planet top of the agenda.

My interests include walking, beekeeping, gardening and conservation of both the natural and built environment. I recently obtained a PG Certificate in ‘Historic Building Conservation’ at the University of York. I am married with two adult daughters.

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Ryburn: Cordelia Prescott

Cordelia has been a proud resident of the Calder Valley since 1996, with seven of those years spent living in Ryburn ward. Here, she has raised her three children, all of whom received their education within our local community. Cordelia’s commitment to our area runs deep, rooted in her experiences here and her desire to make a positive impact. She has worked as a musician and teacher in the local area for nearly 30 years. She is also a keen gardener, and loves to grow and cook her own food.

Driven by a lifelong passion for environmental advocacy, Cordelia has been actively involved in protesting against environmental issues since 2019. She believes strongly in the urgent need for sustainable practices, particularly when it comes to local food production.

Skircoat: Robert Orange

I have always loved the natural world, and I have become increasingly distressed over the years by the ongoing poisoning of the planet and destruction of species and habitats. My growing frustration with the lack of action by politicians, media and corporations led me to join the Green Party in 2015, and to begin actively protesting in 2019.

I have lived in Calderdale for nearly 30 years, and really value the diversity of the communities who have their home here, as well as the beautiful landscape and unique urban and rural environments.

Sowerby Bridge: David Booth

I was born and for most of my life lived in the steelworks town, Scunthorpe.  However, in 2018, aged 61, I decided to move to Calderdale.

I became a Green Party member when I was asked the question – What is the most important issue? I realised it was Climate Change. I had made a career out of increasing global warming gases! It became obvious I had to make a change. The Greens were the only political party that was seriously concerned about it.

I think my outlook is similar to most people who have a conscience about lifestyle impacts. I’m not expecting voters to wear the hair shirt. I don’t expect those industries to be shutdown, but we will need to be less and less fossil fuel dependant. If we don’t, what’s the future for today’s kids and grandkids?

Todmorden: Kieran Turner

A long-term activist on Green issues, Kieran stood for the Green Party in the snap General Election in 2017. During the campaign he was impressed by the unselfishness of the topics raised by residents on the doorstep. He strongly feels that the best way to take forward the social and environmental issues that matter in Todmorden is to have a Green voice in Calderdale Council.
There is an urgent need to shake up local administration and introduce politics that listen, and respond to local residents. Local authorities need to move towards protecting, conserving, and improving our local assets, working together with the creativity and energy of the community, putting people first. They must use their resources to support such groups and local initiatives, and stop struggling to provide services that are all too often dictated by the commercial demands of large, national property developers and other commercial interests.

Town: Elliot Hey

Elliot Hey will bring a Green voice on Calderdale Council to bring more focus to addressing the climate emergency.

Tackling the climate emergency requires action to reduce the carbon footprint, improve energy efficiency, reduce air pollution, mitigate flooding, create new, sustainable, green jobs and training to support this.

Warley: Katie Witham

I’ve loved living in Calderdale for 20 years, and am keen to offer my skills and experience to support my community. I work on disability and environmental issues, as well as peace, and social justice campaigns while living with a chronic illness. I’m involved with local singing, dancing, hiking and environmental groups.

As your green councillor I will:

• Speak up and campaign for an improvement in local services and amenities so they can be accessible to ALL residents,
• Fight to ensure that development in our area is appropriate and sustainable with a council commitment to renewable energy and green technologies.