Caol and Mallaig

THE TIMETABLE for the election for the return of a councillor for the Caol and Mallaig ward of Highland Council has been announced.

The by-election is being held following the death of Councillor Billy MacLachlan, who was one of three councillors representing the ward.

Councillor MacLachlan was elected last May but had previously served on Highland Council and held a position on the Lochaber committee.

The other ward members are Councillors Allan Henderson (Independent) and Ben Thompson (Independent).

The Notice of Election and Nomination Form will be published on the council’s website www.highland. gov.uk on Tuesday of next week.

Candidates will have until 4pm on March 1 to submit their nomination papers.

If the seat is contested, voting will take place on Thursday, April 5, with the count taking place within the ward on Friday, April

6.

Anyone eligible to vote can vote in person on the day or apply for either a postal vote or to vote by proxy.

The latest time to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Monday March 19 and the deadline for anyone wishing to apply to vote by proxy is Monday March 26.

Taking into account this vacancy within the Caol and Mallaig ward, the current political representation of the council is:

Independent (28); Nonaligned (2); Scottish Conservative and Unionist (10); Scottish Green Party (1); Scottish Labour Party (3); Scottish Liberal Democrats (9); Scottish National Party (19); Sutherland Independent Group (1).