Putting her best foot forward
Kingsmead’s newest councillor claimed victory with a 200-vote majority despite breaking her foot while she was out canvassing.
Liberal Democrat Sue Craig claimed the seat of the late Chris Pearce, a Conservative, who died on April 30.
Some 1,328 residents of the ward cast a vote in Thursday’s by-election, representing a 35 per cent turnout, with 545 going to Ms Craig, a software delivery manager.
Bath and North East Somerset Council’s newest representative said: “I’m so pleased that the voters had confidence in me, because I’m new.
“I’m also really pleased for the Liberal Democrats. I hope this is the tide turning - we want to take control of the council if we can.”
Asked what she had learned while canvassing, Ms Craig said: “The people of Bath feel they are too far down the pecking order.
“Students and tourists are really important for the economy but it’s Bathonians who are the beating heart. I want to get out there and talk to people.
“I want to go out with the police if I can. I saw an exchange on Twitter saying there were heroin addicts in Kingsmead Square. It’s terrible.
“I feel as if the city centre is becoming a place that feels dangerous. It doesn’t feel like Bath - it’s always been genteel, tidy and clean.
“Now there’s rubbish everywhere and there are homeless people, through no fault of their own.
“I don’t know how much longer we can keep our status as a World Heritage city in this state.
“I’m really proud of Bath. It breaks my heart to see it in such a mess.”
Ms Craig broke her foot when she slipped down some steps - and the resident was not even in for her to speak to. She kept canvassing by phone.
Labour’s Sharon Gillings took second place in the by-election with 326 votes.
Conservative candidate Tom Hobson and Colin Lucas for the Greens received 282 and 172 respectively. There were three rejected votes. Ms Craig is being thrown in at the deep end with a full council meeting tonight.
And it is only 10 months until the full council elections.