David Ireton (Cons): Living and working in Chapel-le-Dale with his family, David is aware of the problems everyone is facing in these times of austerity and the extreme pressures encroaching on everyday lives.

He says: “Over the past years I have had the honour and privilege of serving our communities and endeavoured always to represent you honestly and fairly. I have consistently listened and looked at all your issues with an open mind. I now offer my time and commitment to continue to serve our communities and represent your views, concerns and aspirations without fear or favour. During my years of public service I have and continue to take a lead on economics, environment and housing for local residents with a particular interest in rural economic policy. A new responsibility placed on our county council is health and wellbeing which will need a close eye kept on in the coming years.”

Pascal Jacquemain (Lib Dem): No picture submitted. Pascal is an IT architect, currently working for Arcadia (BHS, Topshop and other brands) in Leeds. He has 24 years experience on IBM systems on both sides of the Channel.

He was born in Paris in 1969 but moved to England in 1995 where he met Hazel whom he married in 1997. Since 1995, they have lived in Newcastle, Bristol and London before settling in Bentham (where Hazel comes from) eight years ago. They have two daughters.

He says: “I am a Liberal Democrat. I joined the party from Labour at the time of the Iraq War. I have a number of concerns about the area such as lack of housing and closure of sheltered housing and retirement/nursing homes. I would also campaign for better train services and road repairs. I enjoy reading, listening to music, using the internet, especially Twitter where I am known as @jacquep and, of course, politics.”

Tony Macaulay (Ind): Born in Clapham, Tony was educated in Austwick, Clapham and Ingleton and, after five years with Cumbria Police, worked in printing, publishing and marketing with small businesses throughout the Dales. Divorced, he has three children – Catherine who is a school governor and Mark and Andrew who work in moorland conservation – and four grandchildren.

As project officer, he established the highly acclaimed, hugely successful and continuing Sedbergh Community Office bringing many services back into the community. He is also a member of 38 Degrees and, in January, delivered a 3,000-signature petition calling for the protection of the NHS to the local clinical commissioning group. He also fought the closure of Ingleton Middle School.

“We now we face losing Reid House without any consultation,” he says. “We must work together to stop these losses and revitalise our community. I believe everyone must have the opportunity to make their views known.”

John Matthew (Lab): John was brought up in Bentham and attended Bentham Grammar School in the 1960s. He lived here until he was married and returned in 2011. He has one son and two granddaughters.

“I spend most of my life working in public libraries,” he says. “I sat on the Library Association Council, the professional body for librarians in the 1990s, championing the cause of local community libraries Since then I have worked on government regeneration projects and still sit on the boards of a community enterprise and community development organisation. I am a graduate of the Common Purpose programme, believing in close working between private, public and voluntary sector. Before retiring last year I worked for a charity as an advocate for older people.

“In my spare time I travel the country playing bass guitar in a rhythm and blues band when I am not studying the history of the Craven area.”