MAY I use your esteemed Craven Herald to most sincerely thank the voters of Barden Fell ward who so overwhelmingly supported my candidature for Craven District Council after such a difficult time last year.

My appreciation also goes to everyone for their hard work preparing for the elections on Thursday, May 6, and conducting the count notwithstanding the practical problems caused by the Covid 19 restrictions.

Great credit is due to the returning officer Paul Shevlin and his team for a task so professionally performed.

Looking to the future surely this is a time for politics and personalities to be put aside and with a single minded purpose ensure a healthy, viable and sustainable rural economy.

We will be unable to achieve this sustainable economy unless we all recognise that the very future of the planet is in our hands.

We all have a prime responsibility to care for, to hold dear and respect the planet Earth which we share with all living creatures.

Whether it be climate change or carbon footprints it is for all of us in our everyday living to maintain and cherish all aspects of our environment. We only have one world and one life.

Towards these ideals I will do my upmost to continue supporting the residents and businesses of the Barden Fell ward as I have for the past five years even when I was not an official ward member.

District Cllr David Pighills

Barden,

Skipton,