A new county councillor is set to be elected in County Durham this week.

The four-way fight for the Esh and Witton Gilbert division will be settled in a by-election on Thursday, March 21.

Liberal Democrats will be defending the seat of former councillor Mike McGaun, who stepped down last month.

The Labour and Conservative party have fielded candidates with an independent also in the running.

Polling stations will open on Thursday between 7am-10pm at several venues in the area including:

  • Witton Gilbert Village Hall

  • St Michael's RC Primary School

  • The Miners Institute in Langley Park

  • Quebec Village Hall

  • Royal Oak, 1 Commercial Street

  • Satley Parish Hall.

Your candidates are:

Anne Bonner (Labour)

Anne Bonner
Anne Bonner

 

"Anne has lived in County Durham for 30 years and for most of that time has taken an active community role.

She has traditional Labour Party values and believes that by working together, people and communities can achieve far more.

Anne's first community role was in Northern Ireland as part of the peace and reconciliation process.

In Durham she has been involved in establishing co-operative businesses, supporting credit unions and the development of social enterprises.

Her daughter and grandchildren live in Langley Park. Anne is currently a parish councillor representative on the mid-Durham Area Action Partnership.

She has served one four-year term as a county councillor.

Anne's priorities are to reduce speeding traffic, improve the environment and street cleaning, provide better youth services and projects to reduce isolation and loneliness.

Anne takes her public responsibility very seriously and will work hard to represent all residents of this dispersed council division."

Beverley Coult (Lib Dem)

Beverley Coult
Beverley Coult

 

"Unlike the Conservative and Labour candidates, Bev Coult lives in the area, in Langley Park.

Bev has a long history of community work in Langley Park and the surrounding area.

She is secretary of the cricket club and allotment association and led the project to create a community garden in Langley Park.

Bev will work tirelessly alongside Lib Dem colleague Arnie Simpson in Witton Gilbert, Langley Park and our smaller villages.

As trustee and treasurer of a local primary school and volunteer running an after school club, Bev will target improved facilities for young people.

Bev will continue the work to improve road safety and public transport, as well as pushing for more investment in road and pavement maintenance, and challenging excessive council tax rises.

Most importantly though she will always be there to help local residents and living in the area is in the best position to do this."

Ryan Drion (Independent)

Ryan Drion
Ryan Drion

 

"I am your Independent Candidate for the forthcoming by-election on 21st March.

I decided to stand as an independent as I'm tired of the time wasted by the political parties fighting with each other with little positive change accomplished.

I'm only accountable to YOU and by investing 100% of my time in working hard to get what YOU want we will bring positive change to OUR communities.

I am a resident of Langley Park and active member of the Parish Council.

I'm a community speed watch volunteer and very interested in local planning, youth provision and making our community spaces look better and have amenities that benefit all residents, in all OUR communities.

However, this is not about me, it is about US and most importantly it is about YOU, it is about what YOU would like to see improve in your communities."

Richard Lawrie (Conservative Party)

Richard Lawrie
Richard Lawrie

"This by-election is a real opportunity to tell Jeremy Corbyn's Labour-run county council that residents want something different, and only a Conservative vote will send this message.

We need to protect green spaces, and deal with issues such as speeding traffic, especially near schools and in residential areas.

The council needs to deal with litter and fly-tipping. We need cleaner and greener communities.

And to support people who recycle, I will campaign to scrap garden waste recycling charges.

We also need an efficient council which stops squandering money, and the 5% Council Tax increase must be fought.

Durham also needs a proper long-term plan for regeneration which will benefit our villages, and create jobs.

This year marks 100 years since Labour took control of Durham County Council.

If you agree that this is a council which doesn't listen and takes voters for granted, it's time to change that.

Vote Conservative."