There are 2 By-Elections in Shepton Mallet coming up. The East and West wards of the Town Council each have 2 vacancies and the election will be held on Thursday 3rd May. The vacancies have been caused by the death of a sitting councillor, the forfeiture of a councillor for non-attendance and the resignation of two others.
In the East ward it’s a battle between 2 Tories, 2 Independents and a Lib Dem, but in the West ward The Labour Party is putting up two candidates for the two seats – Paul Turner and Gill Pettitt.
Shepton Mallet already has TWO Labour Town councillors, Chris Inchley and Deborah Towner, but Shepton Branch Labour Party have been increasingly active in local issues notably the recent campaign over the bed closures in Shepton Hospital and now regarding the library. Both Gill and Paul know the town well and Paul has been at the core of the hospital protest and the legal challenges mounted against SOMPAR.
Paul is also the Wells Rural Affairs Officer and recently organised the Rural Affairs Panel which was addressed by David Drew MP – Shadow Farming Minister. In preparation for this Paul has also visited over 50 local farms and his knowledge of this aspect of the community and Labour Policies in relation to Rural Affairs is a huge asset to the town, the community and to the Party.
Labour across the county has rallied to the cause and there were 11 canvassers out yesterday – from all 4 branches of the Wells CLP and will be canvassing there again at 10.30 next Saturday .