Stoke Gifford Parish Council has announced that it is looking for two new Councillors following a double resignation earlier this month.
The Journal has learned that the vacancies have arisen following the resignations of Cllr Diane Bryant and Nick Bryant, who are both Conservatives representing the Central parish ward.
In accordance with the Local Government Act 1972, the two “casual” vacancies are now being advertised on the Council’s noticeboards.
An election could be called if ten local electors call for one before Friday 6th July, otherwise the Council will “co-opt” two new representatives of its own choosing.
The Journal understands that the two Councillors submitted their resignations because they are relocating abroad due to work commitments.
Cllrs Bryant were elected to the Parish Council just over a year ago in the May 2011 election, when the Conservatives won all five seats in the Central ward, beating five contenders from the Labour party by a decisive margin.
The Central parish ward is bounded by Gipsy Patch Lane and Winterbourne Road in the north and the railway line in the south.
With the exception of one Councillor, Matthew Brown (Labour), representing University ward, Stoke Gifford Parish Councillors all belong to the Conservative Party.
Should a by-election be forced by the requisite number of local electors, it is likely to cost the Parish between £3k and £5k.
