SIX candidates are standing in next month’s by-election to represent Saltford on Bath and North East Somerset Council.
A vote in the ward is set to be held on January 16 to elect a new councillor after Alison Streatfeild-James (Liberal Democrat) stepped down earlier this month.
Whoever is elected will share the role of representing Saltford on Bath and North East Somerset Council with Duncan Hounsell (also Liberal Democrat), who remains Saltford’s other councillor.
Saltford was a Conservative-held ward from the creation of Bath and North East Somerset Council in 1996 until 2019, when Liberal Democrats Alastair Singleton and Mr Hounsell won both seats in the ward. After Mr Singleton stepped down at the 2023 local elections, Ms Streatfeild-James won his seat.
The full list of candidates standing for the seat is:
Andrew David Busby (Conservative)
Daniel Patrick Condick (Reform UK)
Jane Emma Giddins (Labour)
Hossein Pirooz (Liberal Democrat)
Luanne Thornton (Green)
Christopher John Warren (Independent)
Mr Busby and Mr Warren both stood for election at the 2023 council elections, coming third and fourth to Mr Hounsell and Ms Streatfeild-James in the election where both seats were up for grabs.
A leader of the campaign to reopen Saltford Station, Mr Warren received just 33 fewer votes than Ms Streatfeild-James, with Mr Busby in turn 95 votes behind him.
Ms Streatfeild-James resigned as councillor with immediate effect to take on a new role at the Financial Conduct Authority where she cannot hold political office.
Following her resignation, the Liberal Democrats have 40 out of the 59 seats on the council. Labour have seven councillors, six councillors are independent, the Greens have three councillors, and the Conservatives have two.
Although named for the village by the Avon, Saltford ward actually covers a large area of North East Somerset, including Burnett, Bath Spa University’s Newton Park campus, Chewton Keynsham, Compton Dando, Corston, Newton St Loe, and even Queen Charlton on the other side of Keynsham.
Polling stations will be located in Compton Dando Village Hall, Corston Village Hall, Room MHG.17 in Bath Spa University Main House, Newton St Loe Village Hall, and Saltford Hall.
The deadline to register to vote in the election is midnight on December 30. You can register to vote here: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
You will need to bring one of the 20 accepted forms of photo ID with you to vote. You can check if your ID is on the list, and have until 5pm on Wednesday 8 January to sign up for a voter authority certificate if it is not, here: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-vote/photo-id-youll-need
New applications to vote by post, amendments or cancellations of existing postal or proxy arrangements must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Tuesday December 31. New applications to vote by proxy must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Wednesday January 8.
Pictured, Alison Streatfeild-James, who has stepped down as councillor for Saltford, with fellow Saltford councillor Duncan Hounsell
Six candidates to contest Saltford by-election
