Having been born in Leeds I have lived in Alwoodley for 35 years.

Full statement

I worked for 36 years in the health sector and now volunteer with local transport and planning groups. I am also a trustee of a local charity. So I am familiar with local issues and how local government operates.

We need better local bus services to give people a viable choice to use public transport and in time a mass rapid transport system for Leeds / West Yorkshire. An improved network of footpaths and off road cycle routes would enable people to get out into the local countryside. Money needs to be spent in the suburbs and not just in the city centre. We also need good public services including social services which support older and disadvantaged people in living fulfilled lives. However to achieve this much more decision making needs to happen locally by parish and district councils and by a Yorkshire Regional Parliament. England has one of the most centralised systems of government in the world. We are being poorly served by a UK government which seeks to micromanage local decisions such as cycle lanes but fails to get to grips with the big national issues we face.