Blackpool Council sets Claremont byelection date after death of UK's longest-serving councillor Ivan Taylor
Everything you need to know.
Blackpool Council has set the date for a byelection in the Claremont ward following the death of veteran councillor Ivan Taylor.
Voting will take place on Thursday, October 1, with residents being reminded to make sure they are registered to vote and have an accepted form of photo ID if they wish to cast their ballot.
The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Tuesday, September 15. You can register to vote here: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote Voters will also need to bring valid photo ID to the polling station. This is typically a photocard driving licence or passport, although other forms of accepted identification can also be used.
Details on what forms of ID are accepted can be found here: https://bit.ly/elections-voter-id
Anyone who does not have an acceptable form of photo ID can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. The deadline to apply for one for the by-election is 5pm on Wednesday, September 23.
The by-election follows the death of popular Labour councillor Ivan Taylor last month, aged 86. Mr Taylor was confirmed as the UK’s longest-serving councillor in June, having served his community for almost 60 years.
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His death prompted a host of tributes to the former mayor, who also played a key role in Blackpool becoming a unitary authority, oversaw the roll-out of Sure Start centres, and established the town’s first publicly run leisure centre.
A packed funeral service for Mr Taylor was held at Blackpool’s Salvation Army Citadel on August 7. His passing left a vacant seat on Blackpool Council in Claremont ward, which includes key thoroughfares such as Dickson Road, Claremont Road and parts of Talbot Road.
The ward’s other seat is held by Labour councillor and council leader Lynn Williams.