CONSTITUENTS in Bromsgrove’s Sidemoor ward will soon be voting for their new councillor in an upcoming by-election.
Bromsgrove District Council have called a vote on Thursday, September 19 after candidates were confirmed last week.
Sidemoor’s new councillor will take over from former Labour councillor, Graeme Stewart who was elected in May 2023. The Standard understands no clarification has yet been given on the reason for this by-election.
The candidates standing for election next month are James Clarke of the Liberal Democrats, Rita Dent of the Conservative Party, Peter Measham of the Green Party, and Jennifer Smith of the Labour Party.
James Clarke, who ran for the Sidemoor seat on behalf of the Lib Dems in May 2023, missed out on becoming a councillor with the second most votes at 213 to Graeme Stewart’s 352.
Rita Dent has a long political history in Bromsgrove, most recently winning the Bromsgrove Central seat for the Conservatives in Worcestershire County Council’s 2017 elections.
She then missed out on election to Bromsgrove District Council’s central ward in 2019.
Peter Measham previously ran as a Green Party candidate for election in Worcestershire County Council’s Bromsgrove East ward in 2021 and garnered 236 votes, the lowest of all four candidates.
Jenny Smith ran for the Labour Party in Bromsgrove District Council’s Catshill South ward in May 2023, finishing in second place with 204 votes to Conservative winner, Shirley Webb’s 300.
Applications to register to vote must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by midnight on Tuesday, September 3. Visit https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote to register.
