Voters in the Kingswood ward of Stroud District will visit the polls next month to choose their district council representative in a by-election scheduled for Wednesday, 2 September. This election was called after Liberal Democrat councillor Holly Simkiss stepped down for personal reasons.
Currently, Stroud District Council is led by Green Party councillors holding 23 of the 51 seats at Ebley Mill. The council’s composition also includes 18 Labour councillors, six Conservatives, two independents, and one Liberal Democrat.
Five candidates have put themselves forward to represent Kingswood, each outlining their priorities and reasons for seeking election.
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Claire Cook brings experience from serving eight years as a Bristol city councillor in the early 2000s, highlighting the impact effective local government can have on residents’ lives. She stands on Labour values of equality and fairness and is particularly concerned with housing issues, emphasising the need for young people in Kingswood to have strong life opportunities. Claire notes her admiration for Andy Burnham’s open and listening approach to politics and believes representatives should begin by asking questions rather than assuming answers.
Born in Stroud and currently living in Wotton, Claire manages three local businesses and serves on the town council. She has also initiated community events aimed at enhancing the area’s profile. She identifies road safety, the local economy, and school funding as key community priorities and pledges to work towards results, even if not having all the answers immediately.
Alasdair, a long-term Kingswood resident of 35 years and a Green Party member for around 50 years, is now retired from a position with the Higher Education Funding Council for England, which he held until 2019. Earlier in his career, working as an events organiser at the Natural History Museum, he developed strong environmental connections. Passionate about both local and global environmental issues, Alasdair intends to represent residents’ concerns about preventing unsustainable development in Kingswood and aims to help create prospects for young people to remain in the village after school. He also plans to advocate for improved maintenance of local roads by the county council.
Michael Rees stands as the Reform Party candidate. Raised locally in Charfield, he attended Kingswood’s KLB school and later Berkeley Green UTC, where he studied engineering. Currently a county councillor, Michael emphasises his commitment to listening to local people, understanding their concerns, and finding practical solutions. He stresses the importance of making the most efficient use of council funds, focusing on maintaining and improving the council’s most valued services.
Finally, the Conservative candidate, who has lived in Kingswood ward for ten years, brings a strong passion for rural and village life. With 17 years’ experience working in the NHS, including community visits within the ward, they have direct experience of local needs. Motivated by Conservative values centred on practical governance and local leadership, they seek to preserve and future-proof village life for coming generations.