Atherstone Town Council invites residents to call election following another councillor resignation

Atherstone Town Council is currently inviting the town to call an election to fill a councillor vacancy in the Central Ward.

The town council has issued a notice stating that if ten members of the electorate write to call an election, then the position will be filled by a public vote.

If no such request is made then the council will fill the position by co-option.

An ATC statement said: "If by 16 March, 2021 (14 days excluding Dies Non, after the date of this notice) a request for an election to fill said vacancy is made in writing to the Returning Officer at the address below by ten electors for the said Parish, an election will be held to fill the said vacancy, otherwise the vacancy will be filled by co-option."

Requests can be sent to: Steve Maxey, Returning Officer, The Council House, South Street, Atherstone, Warwickshire, CV9 1DE.

The vacancy comes after Gary Chamberlain resigned from office at the end of February stating that: "my frustration in not being able to speak or action issues that quite clearly are being misrepresented on the council plays a factor."

The earliest date an election could be held is May 6 following the Local Government and Police and Crime Commissioner (Coronavirus) Postponement of Elections and Referendums) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 and the Coronavirus Act 2020 which were passed last year, deferring all elections as a result of Covid-19.

Atherstone Town Council is currently missing one councillor in the South Ward as well as three in the Central Ward.

An election has already been called to fill one seat for the Central Ward, however the resignation of Mr Chamberlain, and the sad passing of Cllr Dawn Downes last week has meant that a further two positions need to be filled.

Understandably, no confirmation has yet been made about filling Cllr Downes' position.