Elections
Durham County Council elections, 2021: Barnard Castle West
| Summary: | Elections to Durham County Council in May 2021 |
| Polling date: | Thursday 6th May 2021 |
| Division: |
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| Candidates (by surname): |
Candidates who have not yet responded are welcome to contact us with their replies to the questions for us to publish. |
Questions for Barnard Castle West division candidates (4 questions)
# Question 1
What experiences do you or your family members have of cycling for either transport or leisure? Bearing in mind that e-bikes can now make County Durham's hills easy, what would you consider to be the main barriers which prevent more people from cycling in your area, and how would you tackle these?
Responses to this question from all divisions…
| Richard Andrew BELL (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
| David Wilson HARDAKER (Labour Party) |
I have not cycled for many years main problem is poor drivers |
| Ted HENDERSON (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
| Dave HYNES (Labour Party) |
Very little experience of cycling in Durham. Main barrier in area-amount of traffic and particularly speeding traffic and lorries. |
| Stephen Charles WHITE (Liberal Democrat) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 2
Schools in County Durham have bike shelters but they are often empty. Children who might like to cycle are often driven to school because parents don't consider our streets safe enough for children to walk or cycle. What are your views about cycling as a travel option for children? What practical changes would you like to see in your area to enable children to cycle?
Responses to this question from all divisions…
| Richard Andrew BELL (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
| David Wilson HARDAKER (Labour Party) |
Cycling a good option sorry no idea about 2nd question as I am not a cyclist |
| Ted HENDERSON (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
| Dave HYNES (Labour Party) |
Great idea but not practical at present. Distances to schools and terrain (in many cases) would be an issue. |
| Stephen Charles WHITE (Liberal Democrat) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 3
The surge in cycling during the Covid 19 lockdowns showed how quieter and safer conditions encourage people to cycle. Cycling can help address many issues:
* the climate emergency, if people cycle instead of making shorter journeys by car
* social inclusion, because cycling is affordable and enables those on low incomes to access employment and other opportunities
* the health crisis, as exercise incorporated into journeys is very effective
How big a role do you think cycling can play in tackling these urgent issues? How can Durham County Council increase investment in cycling and quickly deliver safe, complete cycle routes to key destinations?
Responses to this question from all divisions…
| Richard Andrew BELL (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
| David Wilson HARDAKER (Labour Party) |
It can help , more cycle lanes needed |
| Ted HENDERSON (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
| Dave HYNES (Labour Party) |
Cycling can play a large part in these issues but needs a whole cultural and structural change both in local area and country. It would be wonderful if Durham County Council were given the resources to look into this matter further. |
| Stephen Charles WHITE (Liberal Democrat) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 4
The junction of the A67 and Harmire Road (B6278) in Barnard Castle is wide and complicated, and presents a challenge for people walking or cycling in the area. How would you like to see this made safer, and are there any other junctions that you think need improving to make the town, or the rural areas, more cycle and pedestrian friendly?
Responses to this question from all divisions…
| Richard Andrew BELL (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
| David Wilson HARDAKER (Labour Party) |
This is not an easy problem to solve |
| Ted HENDERSON (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
| Dave HYNES (Labour Party) |
Safety zones for stationary cyclists in these crossing areas may be a start. ALL junctions should be constructed with an emphasis on safety not only for motorists but also walkers and cyclists in our area. May I also say this also includes horse riding. |
| Stephen Charles WHITE (Liberal Democrat) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
SPACE for Durham is a non-partisan body. All candidates are given an equal opportunity to submit their views. Information published by SPACE for Durham, c/o 35 Archery Rise, Durham, DH1 4LA.