BASILDON has its first Reform UK councillor after the party enjoyed a successful day at the ballot boxes reports the Local Democracy Reporter.
The party won the Wickford Park seat on Basildon Council during the by-election on Thursday (June 26). The by-election was called after the death of long-serving councillor and former mayor David Harrison, who was first elected in 1971. He died in April after a long illness.
Sarah Shields received 922 votes, and the total turnout was 25.25 per cent. Lewis Hooper, Conservative candidate, received 840 votes, Andrew Carter for Wickford Independents got 148 votes, Wayne Milne, Labour candidate, had 146 votes at the polls, Stewart Mott for the Lib Dems had 171 votes, and Penny Wright for the Green Party got 43 votes.
Cllr Shields said: “Thank you to the great people of Wickford for giving me the great honour of being their councillor. I am a Wickford resident and proud to call it my home. I will work tirelessly for the betterment of its residents and the town of Wickford itself.
“We have been out knocking on doors throughout the campaign, and the response has been very positive. Residents are desperate for change and for Wickford to have a strong voice at Basildon Council. I will work hard every day to give them that.
“I will be asking the council to remove parking charges in the town centre on market days to support small businesses and make people’s lives easier. We need to encourage entrepreneurship, not hinder it.
“The Government is forcing more homes onto the area, I will be raising objections at the council meetings and standing up for residents’ best interests. While house building is needed, we must see the infrastructure come first.”
James McMurdock, Reform MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, added: “We thank the residents of Wickford for backing our message of hope and positivity. Sarah’s perseverance and strength have really shone through, and now the first step towards a better, brighter Basildon has been taken. I would like to thank the residents who have backed us. If you want the change we desperately need, then continue to support Reform.”
