Ledbury makes new call for town council candidates

Ledbury Town Council has struggled for members for some years, with only ten of its notional 18 seats currently filled.

A byelection in Ledbury South ward scheduled for November 12 had to be cancelled after no candidates came forward, while an earlier byelection in Ledbury West drew only a single candidate, Barry Hill, who was elected unopposed.

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Herefordshire Council as the county’s electoral authority said after the most recent failure that the election would be re-run.

It has now confirmed that this will take place on Thursday, December 10, “if contested”.

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Candidates’ nomination papers must be hand-delivered to the county’s Returning Officer at The Electoral Services Office, Plough Lane, Hereford by 4pm on November 13.

Herefordshire Council offers guidance to potential candidates here.

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Two councillors resigned from the town council earlier this year, while councillors Lesley Wilkinson and Joe Hamblin were co-opted – that is, voted on by colleagues, keeping the number at ten.

This is the same number of councillors as emerged from the last scheduled full council elections in the county, in May 2023 – which, being uncontested, meant no town council elections actually took place.

There will again be elections to all town, parish and ward council seats in the county next May – though on current trends it seems unlikely that the Ledbury Town Council posts will be contested then either.