THE list of candidates running to replace Thornbury & Yate MP Claire Young as a councillor in Frampton Cotterell has been published.
Ms Young has stepped down from her role as a South Gloucestershire councillor to concentrate on her work in Westminster.
Her resignation has triggered a by-election in the council’s Frampton Cotterell ward, which will be held on November 28.
Nominations for the by-election have closed and the candidates are David Goodwin (Liberal Democrat), Alan Lankester (Green), Tim Niblett (Conservative) and Jonathan Trollope (Labour).
Liberal Democrat Ms Young overturned a 12,369-vote majority to oust Conservative Luke Hall in the Thornbury & Yate constituency, which includes Frampton Cotterell, at July’s general election.
She quit as council leader shortly afterwards, and said at the time she would also stand down entirely from the council in due course, after dealing with outstanding casework, in order to “focus on doing one job well”.
‘A great privilege to serve’
Ms Young has been a councillor for more than 17 years, first for Westerleigh ward then for Frampton Cotterell after boundary changes in 2019.
She said: “It’s been a real honour to represent local people on South Gloucestershire Council – and I look forward to keep fighting for our area in Parliament.
“It has been a great privilege to serve local people for the last 17½ years.
“I would like to thank officers and members for their hard work and dedication to supporting the people of South Gloucestershire. It has been a pleasure to work with you all.”
In her resignation letter Ms Young listed her proposal for a climate emergency declaration by the council in 2019 and her work as leader from 2023 to make the authority a “genuinely listening council” among her achievements.
Frampton Cotterell is a three-seat ward. Its other two members are Liberal Democrats Tristan Clark and Jon Lean.
In 2023 the Lib Dems received 55% of the vote in the ward, ahead of the Conservatives on 38%, with the Greens and Labour a distant third and fourth respectively.
Polling stations
Polls will be open from 7am to 10pm on November 28, at Zion United Church Beacon, Crossbow House, Iron Acton Parish Hall, The Codrington Arms, Tytherington Village Hall, Rangeworthy Memorial Hall, and the Jubilee Room at Manor Hall.
The last date to register to vote is Tuesday, November 12, with postal vote applications closing at 5pm on November 13, and proxy vote and voter authority certificate (ID) applications closing on November 20.
For more information visit South Gloucestershire Council’s by-election web page.