# Airedale and Ferry Fryston

Airedale and Ferry Fryston is an electoral ward of the City of Wakefield district used for elections to Wakefield Metropolitan District Council.

## Overview

The ward is one of 21 in the Wakefield district, and has been held by Labour since the current boundaries were formed for the 2004 Council election. As of 2015, the electorate stands at 12,495 of which 97.2% identify as "White British" and 64.9% of who identify as Christian.
The ward is situated in the north east of the District and forms the eastern part of the settlement of Castleford. The ward is relatively small in area terms, being fairly densely populated. The ward includes a number of different neighbourhoods, including Airedale, Ferry Fryston, Townville and Fryston Village. The northern edge of the ward is defined by the course of the River Aire, while to the east and south the ward is bounded by the A1(M) and M62 motorways.

## Representation

Like all wards in the Wakefield district, Pontefract North has 3 councillors, whom are elected on a 4-year-rota. This means elections for new councillors are held for three years running, with one year every four years having no elections.
In 2020, Alex Kear (Independent) was removed from the council after he pleaded guilty to child sexual exploitation charges.
The current councillors are Les Shaw (Labour), Kathryn Scott (Labour) and Jackie Ferguson (Labour).

## Councillors

| Election | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor |
| 2004 | Graham Phelps (Lab) | Yvonne Crewe (Lab) | Stephen Groves (Lab) |
| 2006 | Graham Phelps (Lab) | Yvonne Crewe (Lab) | Linda Broom (Lab) |
| 2007 | Graham Phelps (Lab) | Yvonne Crewe (Lab) | Linda Broom (Lab) |
| 2008 | Graham Phelps (Lab) | Yvonne Crewe (Lab) | Linda Broom (Lab) |
| 2010 By-election | Les Shaw (Lab) | Yvonne Crewe (Lab) | Linda Broom (Lab) |
| 2010 | Les Shaw (Lab) | Yvonne Crewe (Lab) | Linda Broom (Lab) |
| 2011 | Les Shaw (Lab) | Yvonne Crewe (Lab) | Linda Broom (Lab) |
| 2012 | Les Shaw (Lab) | Yvonne Crewe (Lab) | Linda Broom (Lab) |
| 2014 | Les Shaw (Lab) | Yvonne Crewe (Lab) | Kathryn Scott (Lab) |
| 2015 | Les Shaw (Lab) | Yvonne Crewe (Lab) | Kathryn Scott (Lab) |
| 2016 | Les Shaw (Lab) | Yvonne Crewe (Lab) | Kathryn Scott (Lab) |
| 2018 | Les Shaw (Lab) | Yvonne Crewe (Lab) | Kathryn Scott (Lab) |
| 2019 | Les Shaw (Lab) | Alex Kear (Ind) | Kathryn Scott (Lab) |
| 2020 | Les Shaw (Lab) | Vacant | Kathryn Scott (Lab) |
| 2021 | Les Shaw (Lab) | Jackie Ferguson (Lab) | Kathryn Scott (Lab) |
| 2022 | Les Shaw (Lab) | Jackie Ferguson (Lab) | Kathryn Scott (Lab) |

## Ward results

2022 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Kathryn Scott* | 1,524 | 61.43 | +10.33 |
| | Conservative | Richard Evans | 541 | 21.81 | −1.29 |
| | Independent | Neil Kennedy | 311 | 12.54 | +1.04 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Leah Birdsall | 105 | 4.23 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 983 | 39.62 | +11.62 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,481 | 21.4 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2021 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jackie Ferguson | 1,190 | 51.1 | +8.8 |
| | Labour | Les Shaw | 1,116 | | |
| | Conservative | Richard Evans | 567 | 23.1 | +10.6 |
| | Independent | Neil Kennedy | 522 | 11.5 | +11.5 |
| | Conservative | Eamonn Mullins | 480 | | |
| | Independent | Ian Kennedy | 367 | 8.1 | +8.1 |
| | Green | John Ingham | 144 | 5.7 | +5.7 |
| | Green | Daniel Russell | 120 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 628 | 28 | +25.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | N/A | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing | | |
2019 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Alex Kear | 1166 | 45.2 | +45.2 |
| | Labour | Yvonne Crewe | 1091 | 42.3 | −31.0 |
| | Conservative | Eamonn Mullins | 321 | 12.5 | −11.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 75 | 2.9 | −49.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2578 | 22.4 | +3.5 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 31 | | |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing | | |
2018 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Kathryn Scott | 1662 | 76.2 | −5.9 |
| | Conservative | Eamonn Mullins | 520 | 23.8 | +5.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1142 | 52.4 | +0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2182 | 18.9 | −4.6 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 10 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2016 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Les Shaw | 2142 | 82.1 | +12 |
| | Conservative | Amy Swift | 467 | 17.9 | +0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1675 | 52.2 | +12 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2609 | 23.5 | −26.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2015 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Yvonne Crewe | 4103 | 70.1 | +15.7 |
| | Conservative | Amy Swift | 1047 | 17.9 | +8.8 |
| | Green | Simon Addy | 706 | 12.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3056 | 52.2 | +34.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5856 | 50.1 | +25.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2014 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Kathryn Scott | 1564 | 54.4 | −18.9 |
| | UKIP | William Proctor | 1049 | 36.5 | +16.1 |
| | Conservative | Mellisa Omer | 262 | 9.1 | +2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 515 | 17.9 | −35.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2875 | 25.0 | +1.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2012 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Les Shaw | 1,977 | 73.3 | −6.8 |
| | UKIP | Arnie Craven | 556 | 20.4 | +20.4 |
| | Conservative | Mellisa Wan Omer | 171 | 6.3 | −12.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,441 | 52.9 | −8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,724 | 23.5 | −4.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2011 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Yvonne Crewe | 2,611 | 80.1 | +24.4 |
| | Conservative | Mellisa Wan Omer | 627 | 19.2 | +7.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,984 | 60.9 | +22.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,258 | 28.2 | −23.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2010 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Linda Broom | 3,305 | 55.7 | +9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Kirby | 1,009 | 17.0 | +2.7 |
| | Conservative | Mellisa Wan Omer | 715 | 12.1 | −5.9 |
| | BNP | Stephen Rogerson | 668 | 11.3 | −9.6 |
| | Independent | Jason Smart | 220 | 3.7 | +3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,296 | 38.7 | +12.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,930 | 51.6 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.2% | |
Airedale and Ferry Fryston By-Election 21 January 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Les Shaw | 1,330 | 49.9 | +3.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Kirby | 603 | 22.6 | +8.3 |
| | BNP | Stephen Rogerson | 353 | 13.3 | −7.7 |
| | Conservative | Carl Milner | 275 | 10.3 | −7.7 |
| | Independent | Jason Smart | 102 | 3.8 | +3.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 727 | 27.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,663 | 23.4 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
This by-election was held due to the death of Graham Phelps in November 2009.
2008 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Graham Phelps | 1,401 | 46.7 | −10.5 |
| | BNP | Stephen Rogerson | 628 | 20.9 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative | Mellisa Wan Omer | 540 | 18.0 | +5.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Kirby | 430 | 14.3 | +2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 773 | 25.8 | −12.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,999 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2007 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Yvonne Crewe | 1,689 | 57.2 | −0.8 |
| | BNP | Stephen Rogerson | 553 | 18.7 | −6.2 |
| | Conservative | Eamonn Mullins | 374 | 12.7 | −4.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Kirby | 337 | 11.4 | +11.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,136 | 38.5 | +5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,953 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2006 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Linda Broom | 1,655 | 58.0 |
| | BNP | Stephen Rogerson | 709 | 24.9 |
| | Conservative | Eamonn Mullins | 489 | 17.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 946 | 33.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,853 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
2004 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Graham Phelps | 2,025 | |
| | Labour | Yvonne Crewe | 1,811 | |
| | Labour | Stephen Groves | 1,751 | |
| | Independent | John Bird | 997 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Kirby | 679 | |
| | Conservative | Mary Barton | 469 | |
| | Conservative | Pamela Ledgard | 418 | |
| | Conservative | Rodney Williams | 409 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,559 | 34.0 |