A NEW Conservative candidate will stand in Craven District Council's Cowling ward in this year’s elections.

Skipton and Ripon Conservative Association has selected Andrew Mallinson, already a Bradford councillor, to contest the seat currently occupied by Cllr Ady Green, whose term is coming to an end.

Cllr Green, however, is considering standing as as Independent for the seat he has held for the Conservatives since 2008.

Cllr Simon Myers, chairman of the Skipton and Ripon Conservative Association, confirmed Cllr Green did not put himself forward as a Conservative candidate.

"I don't like being told what to do and how to vote," said Cllr Green. "I've got an opinion and I've been elected to represent people.

"The Independents have asked me to stand for them. They don't want me to give up, but I'm still Conservative through and through, so I probably would vote with them."

Cllr Patrick Mulligan, a Conservative councillor in the neighbouring Aire Valley with Lothersdale ward, was delighted with Mr Mallinson's selection.

He said: “Andrew knows the ward very well, having worked as the Cowling Parish Council clerk for seven years, and his knowledge of local Government spans over 16 years, so he will be a great asset.”

Mr Mallinson will continue to serve as a Craven ward councillor on Bradford District Council, a seat he has held since 2000.

As well as being the clerk for Cowling, Mr Mallinson also works for Lothersdale Parish Council covering the same duties.

He said: “I love working with people to find solutions to issues, and my depth of knowledge on both a local level and district level make me an ideal candidate to hit the ground running.

"I am therefore delighted to have been chosen to represent the Conservative Party in Cowling and I look forward to meeting people in the village.

"Working as the parish clerk, I have a lot of knowledge of issues that affect Cowling, a village that faces many challenges in the future."

Cllr Green said: "Cowling as a village is a good place. It's very spread out and covers a huge rural area."

The Cowling ward race also features Cowling Parish Council's former chairman, Alan Perrow, who has been selected to run as the UKIP candidate in the local elections on May 5.

Mr Mallinson came within ten votes of winning a seat in the Glusburn ward last year, but was edged out by UKIP councillor Roger Baxandall.