'Pointless' by-election criticised

A by-election will take place to elect a new councillor on to Shrewsbury's borough council - even though the authority will only exist for another eight months.Two electors have called for a by-election in Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council's Pimhill ward, following the death of Conservative Councillor Brian Rees earlier this year.

Some local councillors today blasted the by-election as a "waste of taxpayers' money" although others said it was the right of the electors to call it if they felt it necessary.

Notice of the by-election will be made on Wednesday, ahead of it taking place on August 28.

Charles Armstrong and Dr Maxwell Winchester, both Conservative borough councillors, today criticised the idea.

Councillor Armstrong said: "It's a fairly pointless exercise. I feel it's an absolute waste of time and, more importantly, an absolute waste of money to spend on a by-election which will make no difference to the running of the council."

But Councillor Miles Kenny, leader of the Lib Dem group in Shrewsbury, said: "If the residents of Pimhill feel that they are not being properly represented on the borough council and want to have a by-election for somebody to represent them, even if it's only for a short period of time, then they should be able to exercise their rights without criticism."

Borough council returning officer Gareth Owens said the by-election was likely to cost less than £2,000.

Polling will be from 7am to 10pm on August 28. The deadline for registration is August 12.