Welcome to the Inside Yorkshire Podcast. A podcast full of stories and tales from the people in Yorkshire. In this episode, your host Susan Baty-Symes interviews John Blackie, a local councillor, entrepreneur and rural champion. John tells us what drew him to working as an independent councillor in the North Yorkshire Dales and championing causes dear to his heart.The local creamery management buyout was his first mission and since then he has been involved in numerous projects, most recently helping to set up a community petrol station. His office is abuzz with calls from those needing advice and support, who know that John can be depended upon to roll up his sleeves and get involved.  A true rural champion!KEY TAKEAWAYSMoved to Yorkshire in 1985 with the intention to start a holiday lettings business, I have always worked for myself as a self-employed entrepreneur.In 1995 I was elected to Parish Council, I wanted to offer more of my time to public services and employ people to help in my business. We aim to provide local services, locally accessible for the local communities and now 20 years on we provide a range of public services and the upper-dales community partnership is now acknowledged as a national beacon.Austerity is upon us and it may get worse in the future. What we have done in the local council here in the Upper-dales is the antidote to austerity, by providing a range of services to the community.BEST MOMENTS“The little white bus has been such a wonderful thing. An award-winning service.”“Local people volunteering, who want to pay back to the community”“We were described as a northern powerhouse, I thought that was wonderful”“The best people to serve the community is the community themselves”“Sometimes out of adversity comes success”ABOUT THE HOSTSusan has been living in Yorkshire for over 30 years. She is passionate about the county she has adopted as her home and she never ceases to be amazed at the wealth of talent ‘Inside Yorkshire' and the tales that people tell.ABOUT THE GUESTJohn tells us what drew him to working as an independent Councillor in the North Yorkshire dales, championing causes dear to his heart. The Wensleydale creamery management buyout was his first mission and since then he has been involved in numerous projects, most recently helping to set up a community petrol station. His office is abuzz with calls from those needing advice and support... they know that John can be depended upon to roll up his sleeves and get involved.  A true rural champion!CONTACT [email protected] show was brought to you by Progressive Media Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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