Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats have failed to strengthen their positions on Ross Town Council following a by-election yesterday.

Instead, independent candidate Neil Fowler topped the four-way contest in Ross-on-Wye West, which arose following the resignation of another independent, Saskia Harrison.

On his election flyer he vowed to “listen to residents without a party line telling me how to vote”.

Born and raised in Ross, Mr Fowler has been a firefighter for 35 years. He is married to serving independent town councillor Katie Fowler.

With a turnout of 28 per cent, the October 1 result in full was:

  • Michael Connolly (Reform UK): 185 votes
  • Peter Stanley Evans (Independent): 57
  • Neil Allan Fowler (Independent): 284 (elected)
  • Andrew Mark Steele (Liberal Democrats): 234

The result leaves the town with a majority of LibDem councillors.

There has been criticism recently that the group appoints its own members to the top jobs in the town, including Mayor.

It also means that Reform’s Richard McEvoy, member for Ross East, remains the party’s only representative at town or county level.

All parts of the county will go to the polls again to elect county, town and parish councillors on May 6 next year – but only where there are enough candidates to contest the roles.