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18
Aug
Young Knaresborough Tory first out of traps for North Yorkshire elections
Tyler Reeton has become the first candidate in the Harrogate district to declare they will stand in next year’s North Yorkshire Council elections.
Mr Reeton, 25, will represent the Conservatives in Knaresborough East — a seat currently held by Liberal Democrat Hannah Gostlow.
The elections, which are just over eight months away in May, will determine whether the Tories remain the largest party on the 90-seat council. A total of 44 councillors currently belong to the ruling Conservative and Independents group.
Mr Reeton, who lives in Calcutt, cited road quality, speeding and overdevelopment as issues that frequently came up on the doorstep while campaigning.
He added the state of the town centre was another concern:
It does not take long to see the number of empty store fronts with 'to let' signs on them. I feel this contributes to a general feeling, which I share, that Knaresborough gets forgotten and overlooked.
Mr Reeton stood for Labour in the Bilton and Nidd Gorge by-election for a seat on the former North Yorkshire County Council in 2021. He later joined the Lib Dems before becoming a Conservative in 2023.
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