THE people of Poulton North go to the polls in two weeks in a by-election which will be a barometer for electoral success in the borough council vote next year.
Every seat on Warrington Borough Council will be up for grabs next May, and the three major parties - Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats - will battle it out in Poulton North on September 18 in what could be the last chance to gauge the electoral mood of the town.
The vote has come about after Clr Mike Howard, who was elected in 1999, was forced to step down when his job as catering manager of Padgate High School was taken on by the borough council. Rules state that councillors cannot be employed by the same local authority to which they are elected.
Canvassing is well under way and the two opposition parties will be hoping to close the gap on Labour, which won the seat by more than 700 votes in 1999.
With Labour having suffered a turbulent past 12 months in the town, that gap could be narrowed.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article