Longlevens by-election to cost £10,000

A by-election to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of the Sheriff of Gloucester will cost taxpayers at least £10,000.

Conservative Councillor Clive Walford resigned in September just five months after being re-elected in May to represent Longlevens.

City councillors had also unanimously appointed him Sheriff - an important civic post in Gloucester supporting the work of the Mayor.

Councillor Walford's surprise resignation has triggered a by-election on November 4 which will now cost at least £10,000 to hold, according to city council officials.

In May's all-up election, Councillor Walford won the third seat in Longlevens - pipping Liberal Democrat Sarah Sawyer by 62 votes.

Sarah Sawyer is now standing in the by-election for the Lib Dems.

Councillor Jeremy Hilton, leader of Gloucester Liberal Democrats, said: "This by-election is unnecessary and Longlevens residents will rightly feel angry they have to go to the polls again just six months after electing their councillors.

"Local families are facing tax rises, benefit reductions and price hikes in the shops.

"Gloucester City Council is also under enormous financial pressure having cut services, reduced staffing levels, moved out of its warehouse HQ - no wonder it has become the Vanishing Council.

"So, the last thing taxpayers need is to have to foot a £10,000 bill to hold a by-election."