By-election to be held after councillor steps down to focus on health

A councillor has stepped down from Bath & North East Somerset Council to focus on her health after being diagnosed with cancer.

The Guildhall in Bath

Deborah Collins praised the screening programme at Bath’s Royal United Hospital as she said she would be stepping down early to focus on her health.

Ms Collins has been one of the two Liberal Democrat councillors for the Widcombe and Lyncombe area of Bath since the May 2023 local elections.

Ms Collins said: “I’m very grateful for the screening programme and the excellent care at the RUH which I’m confident will lead to my full recovery from cancer.

“Sadly, I am a long way from being back to normal and able to deal with the demands of being a councillor, so I have had to take the decision to stand down early and focus on my health.”

A council by-election will be held in the Widcombe and Lyncombe ward on Thursday 9th October.

Anyone planning to stand in the election will need to submit their nomination papers to the returning officer at the Guildhall by 4pm on Friday 12th September.

The current composition of the council is now Liberal Democrats (39), Labour (7), Independents (4), Green Party (3), Independents for B&NES (3), Conservatives (2), and one vacant seat.

John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter