RESIDENTS in south Studley go to the polls next Thursday in a parish council by-election.
The vacancy has been created by the resignation of Karen Sumner-Brown due to ill health.
Between elections parish councils have the ability to seek applications and then appoint a successor. However, on this occasion, ten local residents called for an election and, at a cost of £3,000, this will now take place on August 24.
The contest comes at a critical time for the village which is in danger of losing its children’s centre under cutbacks proposed by Warwickshire County Council, and the impending development of the Redditch Eastern Gateway on the A435 three miles to the north.
Other issues include the lack of affordable housing for local families, the eastwards creep of Redditch, now building on land by the Alexandra Hospital up to Green Lane, and defence of the Green Belt.
The parish council has also been in the national spotlight after sending the police round to public-spirited resident Craig Hunt, who had twice painted over obscene graffiti – and expecting him to pay £277.50 to repair the ‘damage’. There are three candidates:
Neil Edden, from Alcester Road, an independent who helped set up the Studley Traffic Action Group and volunteers on the parish’s environmental and strategic planning committees
Chris Pilkington, from Green Lane, who stood as the Labour candidate in the county council elections
Zoe Tolley, from The Slough, who grew up and went to school in the village and is keen to promote business opportunities in the village. She too is an independent.
The village hall will be the polling station which will be open from 7am to 10pm.
