VOTERS in an Ellesmere Port ward head to the polls on Thursday to choose their new councillor after the previous incumbent stepped down.

Labour councillor Michael Edwardson announced last month he was stepping down from the Wolverham ward for health reasons.

The retired nurse and former union steward had served the ward, which takes in Wolverham and Stanney Grange areas, for six years, having won another by-election in Ellesmere Port town centre’s second seat in 2018 following the death of councillor Lynn Clare MBE.

He claimed 1,447 votes in that by-election – a share of 83 per cent – and was re-elected last May with 80 per cent of the vote.

His decision to step down meant a by-election was called, with six candidates vying to replace him when the local electorate head to the ballot boxes on Thursday.

The candidates are:

Kate Grannell for The Green Party

Sally James for the Party of Women

Lizzie Jewkes for the Liberal Democrats

Luke Sharples for the Conservative Party

Jonathan Starkey as an independent

John Stockton for The Labour Party

Polls open at 7am and close at 10pm.

Polling stations will be at The Oaks Community Primary School, Rochester Drive and Wolverham Community School, Milton Road.

A total of 107 councils in England are having full elections this year, including Halton and Warrington, but not Cheshire West and Chester – which held its full elections last year.

And there will also be votes to decide the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner.

The candidates for which are:

Paul Duffy The Liberal Democrats

John Dwyer The Conservative Party

Dan Price The Liberal Party

Voters will be required to show photo ID when they head to the polling station. Acceptable forms of photo ID include: UK-issued passport or driving licence, bus pass, blue badge, PASS proof of age card. A full list can be found here.

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id