CRIME and the declining shopping centre may prove big issues in the council elections on May 4. Residents and traders want to stop the rot in Golders Green Road where recent shop closures have sparked a call for the council to act on increasing rents and

CRIME and the declining shopping centre may prove big issues in the council elections on May 4.

Residents and traders want to stop the rot in Golders Green Road where recent shop closures have sparked a call for the council to act on increasing rents and rates.

Crime remains a big issue in the area, with anti-Semitism a concern for Jewish community leaders.

And the council has also been in trouble for cutting pest control services, which some residents blame for an infestation last summer.

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CONSERVATIVE

Cllr Melvin Cohen, 56, lives in Edgware and is a solicitor. He said: "If elected it will be my 25th year serving. I have done a lot of good for the people of Golders Green and will keep doing that if elected."

Dean Cohen, 23 - Melvin's son - is a property manager from Edgware. He said: "I worked for the council about a year ago and I have an inside eye on what happens."

Cllr Christopher Harris, 41, lives in Golders Green and is a charity director. He said: "I try to represent the views of residents and continue to fight their corner."

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GREEN

Dolores Incenzo lives in East Finchley and worked for 16 years in a Temple Fortune travel agent's. She said: "I'm standing on pensioners' issues and green issues."

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LABOUR

Tony Boulton is a governor at Christ's College, Finchley. He said: "My priority is to tackle anti-social behaviour and provide decent youth services."

Mary McGuirk is a retired teacher. She said: "I am campaigning for better education for all and community facilities, especially for young people."

Aubrey Ross has lived in the borough for 28 years. He provides training in the NHS. He said: "There has been too much local taxation. I propose a street-by-street solution to the parking zones problem."

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LIBERAL DEMOCRAT

Pauline McKinnell, 60, lives on Hendon Way. She said: "My special interests lie in the defence of civil liberties and the establishment of democratic ways of working."

Simon Kovar, lives in Temple Fortune and is a tutor and freelance writer. He said: "I have been involved in the campaign to reopen the Ionic Cinema, which is one of the main issues that I will be standing on."

Jonathan Davies is a solicitor. He said: "Top of my list is to get the council to take action to improve Golders Green's pavements.