Residents will not be sent polling cards for the forthcoming by-election for Ross North Ward.

The decision to request poll cards has to be made by the Town Council because they incur the costs, and poll cards were not requested.

Herefordshire Council informs residents about the election by sending notices to local political agents, to the parish clerk who displays it on a public noticeboard and is asked to also display onto any parish websites/parish magazines and the polling station booking clerk who displays them at the booked venue.

Customer services in the local area are also notified and sent statutory notices and the County Council also publishes everything on the Herefordshire council website with further advertising through social media.

Several readers have contacted the Gazette to say they have received literature from candidates but are unsure why as they have not heard about the election.

John Gasston was elected as a ward councillor for North Ward in Ross-on-Wye last year, however after failing to attend the required number of meetings he was relieved from his duties. Mr Gasston has been working in Namutumba, a Ugandan village which in twinned with Ross-on-Wye, for the previous six months.

The remaining Councillors could have co-opted a replacement but more than ten residents asked for an election, so a by-election will take place on February 25th.

Three candidates have been nominated for the election of a parish ward councillor for the Ross-on-Wye North ward.

Melvin Hodges who lives at Three Crosses is standing for the Labour Party.

Jenny Hyde, who lives at Penrice Mews, is standing for the Conservatives and Lynnette Munoz, who lives in Kyrle Street, is standing for the Liberal Democrats.

The Ross Gazette has invited all the candidates who are standing in the by-election to email a short biography (approx 200 words) and a head and shoulders photo of themselves. These will be published in the Gazette next week, February 17th.

There are two polling stations for this election, the Friends Meeting House, Brampton Street, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 7EQ and the Larruperz Community Centre, Grammar School Close, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 7QD.