INDEPENDENT candidate Melvyn Seward has been elected Craven District Councillor for Skipton East amid allegations that his campaign team used fly-to give him an "unfair advantage".

Mr Seward, of Moor Crescent, received 228 votes at the by-election last Thursday, held following the death of Independent councillor Janet Gott.

Labour candidate Michael Green got 170 votes, Conservative candidate Christopher Harbron, got 125 votes, and Liberal Democrat candidate Mark Wheeler gained 108 votes.

Only 17 per cent of the electorate voted.

However, the result has been overshadowed by complaints that the Independents ran a "not-so-legal" campaign by pasting illegal fly posters near the polling station on the Horse Close Estate.

Tony Crowther, of Roughaw Road, told the Herald he had to remove the posters pasted onto an electricity junction box on North Parade within 200 metres of the polling station.

He said: "It makes me wonder if by voting for an Independent also means that we condone littering, vandalism and a waste of council tax payers money, by having to send somebody out to remove these illegal posters.

"Rules are in place to make sure no-one has an unfair advantage. Why are the Independents breaking those rules?"

Craven District Council's returning officer Colin Iveson said he had been made aware of the problem.

He said: "I have written to the election agent of the candidate who was allegedly involved.

"I have also written to all the groups and parties, bearing in mind the local elections are coming up in May and brought it to their attention that it is an improper practice."

But he added that as returning officer he had no specific power to stop it and could only encourage people to adopt the correct procedure.

Coun Rebecca Heseltine told the Herald: "As the election agent for and on behalf of the successful candidate Mel Seward, I am unreservedly apologetic for any distress which may have been caused by the actions of any of our very enthusiastic supporters.

"My clear impression on the evening of the result was that all candidates considered it to be a good clean fair campaign."

Despite the complaints, Coun Mel Seward said: "I feel privileged to have been elected as an Independent member of Craven District Council for the Skipton East Ward.

"I look forward to helping the residents and businesses of the area without fear or favour of dynamic party politics as a committed and enthusiastic part of the confident, progressive and common sense team of 'The Crown Independents'."

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