A Herefordshire town could be the first in the county to elect a Reform UK councillor next month.
Two vacancies on Ross-on-Wye Town Council, one to represent Ross West, the other Ross East, will be contested on Thursday August 14, with final lists of candidates now published.
There are no vacancies in the town’s third ward, Ross North.
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Currently the town is dominated by Liberal Democrat councillors, who account for 11 of the 16 currently filled posts. Three of these also make up the town’s representatives at county level.
But Matt Symonds, who is standing for Reform in Ross West, said online: “A much needed shake-up would be good for the town, with some new faces and new ideas, and perhaps encourage the Lib-Dem representatives to learn to work together with the other parties.”
In Ross West, the full slate is confirmed as:
- Saskia Harrison (Independent for Ross West)
- Andrew Mark Steele (Liberal Democrats)
- Matt Symonds (Reform UK)
With the slogan Ross First, Politics Last!, Saskia Harrison said: “We need to start to feel the benefits of our town council and not to be pushed to the side because of the breakdown of the unity within.”
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Company director Andrew Steele said: “My financial experience would be useful when it comes to the town council’s budgeting.”
Meanwhile the four candidates standing in Ross East are:
- Cathy Bevan (Labour)
- Maggie Kilcar (Independent)
- Richard Keith McEvoy (Reform UK)
- Emma Vigus (Liberal Democrats)
Ross resident and community volunteer Cathy Bevan has said that as a Labour candidate she could “feed things up the chain of government, and bring things back down to Ross”.
Maggie Kilcar has said she would prioritise “revitalising” the town’s market, and better-maintenance of roads and pavements.
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Richard McEvoy said: “After serving my country around the world, I wish to offer that same drive and devotion in representing the people of Ross East.”
Emma Vigus said of her candidacy: “It’s a big step to take, particularly for first timers which I think most of us are.”
The three candidates who will contest a place on Almeley parish council near Kington on the same day are:
- John Drury (no party affiliation)
- James Edwards (no party affiliation)
- Alex Hughes (Independent)
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