Nominations now open for Evendons by-election

THE BY-ELECTION for the vacant Evendons seat will take place on Thursday, February 7.

All three main parties in Wokingham Borough are planning to contest it.

The seat had been held by Conservative

Mark Ashwell before Liberal Democrat candidate Helen Power stole the seat from him last May, netting 1,375 votes compared to Mr Ashwell’s 1,198 votes.

Other candidates could stand – in 2016, Kaz Lokuciewski stood as an independent netting 115 votes, and in 2015, both the Green Party and UKIP stood.

The closing date for nominations is 4pm tomorrow (Friday, January 11) and anyone wishing to vote who is not currently on the electoral roll can registered by Tuesday,

January 22.

Postal votes have to be submitted to Wokingham Borough Council by 5pm on Wednesday, January 23, proxy vote applications should be submitted by 5pm on Wednesday, January 30.

Andrew Moulton, Wokingham Borough

Council returning officer, said the poll had to be held now rather than waiting until the May local elections.

He said: “The timing is subject to a legal process which we’re required to follow when we receive a councillor’s resignation.

“This includes publishing the notice of vacancy and subsequent notice of election when two registered electors call for one.”