More than 100 Addingham residents quizzed an MP, councillors and other key figures at a question time session hosted by Addingham Civic Society.
Chaired by former Look North presenter Judith Stamper, the event was held at Bracken Ghyll Golf Club and the panel included Keighley MP Kris Hopkins, retiring Northern Editor of The Guardian Martin Wainwright, Bradford Council’s assistant director for planning and transportation Julian Jackson, ward councillors Andrew Mallinson (Con, Craven) and Adrian Naylor (Ind, Craven), and Addingham Parish Council chairman Catherine Coates.
Panel members dealt with challenging questions on topics, ranging from Addingham’s “traffic blight”, wind turbines and the economic health to gay marriage, Lord Coe for Prime Minister and police commissioners.
Ms Stamper said: “I was amazed and delighted by the turnout.
“The hall was packed with people engaged by local and national issues and willing to debate them with an excellent panel who were put through their paces on a range of subjects from planning to windfarms, immigration to police commissioners.
“The debate was spirited. I left feeling exhilarated and convinced that, at least in Addingham, the tradition of public participation in politics is not dead."
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