FOUR candidates are to stand in the forthcoming by-election in the Ross West ward to become a councillor on the town council on October 1.

The vacancy arose following the resignation of Saskia Harrison, who was elected onto Ross-on-Wye Town Council as an Independent, in August 2025, but resigned 11 months later.

The published list states that the nominations are for two independent candidates and one each from Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats and Herefordshire Council, the electoral authority in the county, has confirmed that the by-election will now be held in the ward on Thursday, October 1 following nominations from at least 10 people, who live in the ward who gave the Returning Officer an expression of interest that a by-election should be held.

The candidates are Michael Connolly, Reform UK; Peter Evans, Independent; Neil Fowler, Independent and Andrew Steele, Liberal Democrats.

And following the issues over the lack of polling cards for the August 2025 by-election Ross Town Council have confirmed it will be issuing polling cards to the electorate in the Ross West ward, at a forecast cost of £5,184.91, based on the estimate of the previous by-election, at which polling cards were not issued.

The next scheduled elections for Herefordshire Council and the county’s town and parish councils, will be held on May 6, 2027.