Conservatives have defended their record in charge of Lancashire County Council as they campaign ahead of the local elections.
There will be full Lancashire County Council elections, as well as a Lancaster City Council by-election in John O'Gaunt, and a Morecambe Town Council by-election in Torrisholme, when the district goes to the polls on May 1.
We asked the Conservatives to explain the main issues the local candidates will be campaigning on.
County Councillor Charlie Edwards, in a statement on behalf of the local Conservative group, said: “The Conservatives have run the County Council since 2017, where we inherited a dire situation.
"We took tough decisions to get the finances back on track, and we reopened libraries at Silverdale, Bolton-le-Sands and the Judges Lodgings museum.
"Labour’s mess was not just financial, they simply couldn’t run the council properly.
"Once we balanced the books, our priority had been to run an efficient council that spends money wisely on the priorities of our community, with ringfenced spending on adult and children’s social care services.
"We have invested nearly half a billion pounds into our highways in the last eight years and opened 29 family hubs, supporting children and parents across Lancaster and Morecambe.
"We have also invested heavily in setting up the Baylight festival in Morecambe, as well as dozens of local charities and events.
"We have a strong team of candidates with different backgrounds, including small business, farming, health, law and finance, parents and grandparents, all ready to tackle the challenges facing Lancashire County Council and putting our residents first.
"The Labour Government are imposing on a top-down reorganisation of local government, which could see Lancashire abolished and Lancaster merge with Blackpool or Preston. The Conservatives have always been against wasteful reorganisations and think our community should have a say on the matter.
"This election isn’t about Downing Street, it’s about your street. Conservative councillors work tirelessly to report issues and get them fixed, serving the local community with professionalism and diligence.
"What sets us apart from the other parties locally is we do not promise quick fixes or make empty promises. Trust in politics is at an all time low, and the Conservative Party is under new management and going in a new direction where it puts the people first, all the time. Conservative councillors are at the front line of rebuilding that trust.”
Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green and Reform UK candidates will also be contesting Lancashire County Council seats across the Lancaster and Morecambe District on May 1.
Going into the election, the county council is Conservative-led.
The full list of Lancashire County Council election candidates in the 10 Lancaster District seats can be found here.
Local election candidates announced - Beyond Radio
Read more on the campaign news from the other political parties standing in the elections.
Read more: ELECTIONS: Lib Dems speak out on local issues during election campaign - Beyond Radio
Read more: ELECTIONS: Reform UK leader Nigel Farage visits Morecambe - Beyond Radio
Read more: ELECTIONS: Labour sets out its priorities ahead of Lancashire County Council vote - Beyond Radio
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