I am not a politician – I’m just an ordinary woman, born and bred in Keighley, who wants to make a difference to the town I have called home all my life.

My four children all went to school in Keighley, I was a shopkeeper at Ingrow for 13 years and now, as a bus driver, serve my home town and know the people of Keighley well.

I have decided to stand in the coming Bracken Bank and Ingrow by-election as an independent candidate because I’m not interested in playing politics but in doing what is best for my town.

Until now, I have served Keighley with my work, but the story reported in the Keighley News – Confusion surrounds role of Keighley civic centre auditor (September 26) – about the management of the civic centre has inspired me to run for the town council and, hopefully, serve the town in an even more productive way.

I am tired of the council tax me and the people of Keighley pay not being used for the good of our town. Where I live now, in Broomhill, the things that matter to me and my neighbours are keeping the streets clean, better and safer playing areas for our children and making our roads safer.

When I am out and about driving buses, talking to the people of Keighley, the major concern we all seem to share is safety on our streets. Just last week we saw the awful story of the pensioner beaten up while walking home – Pensioner is attacked on walk home (Keighley News, November 21).

Having worked all my life in the town, I think it’s just not fair this is allowed to happen. It’s the responsibility of all of us to be tough on anti-social behaviour and make our streets safe for everyone. These are the things that matter to me; that matter to the people of Keighley. I hope the people of Keighley will elect me to the town council so I can represent not a political party, but them and our concerns.

Denise Ryder Keighley l Four candidates are standing in the by-election – Samuel Fletcher (UKIP), Denise Ryder (independent), Andrew Spence (independent) and Barry Thorne (independent).