Shipston electorate to head to the polls again

Just a few months after the last town council election, Shipston residents will be receiving polling cards once again to fill the council seat vacated by Alan Noyce. Thanks to a little known by-law, an election must be called if requested by 10 or more members of the electorate.

Following such an application by a group of Shipston residents, the vacant post cannot be filled by council nomination and an election will go ahead provided more than one person puts their name forward for the post.

The election will take place on the 3rd April and polling cards will be sent out in the next few weeks.

Mayor, Ronnie Murphy, said "Many town councillors are concerned that we have been put in a position where we have to hold an election at considerable cost to the town, despite the fact that all seats will be up for re-election anyway in May 2015. However, we urge all eligible residents to make the most of the election by voting on 3rd April."

Combined with the election in December, the town will have spent over £6,000 in election fees in this financial year.