Gateshead Council calls Whickham North by-election amid £16,000 of costs

Gateshead Council has announced a by-election in the ward of Whickham North following the creation of a vacancy.

On Monday, September 30, Gateshead Council published the complete list of official candidates for the recently announced by-election in the ward of Whickham North. The by-election was called following the announcement that Liberal Democrat coun Sonya Hawkins had stood down following a promotion at work, leaving a vacancy.

The ex-councillor in party literature thanked her constituents for supporting her over the last 12 years of her tenure.

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The leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition at Gateshead Council, Coun Ron Beadle paid tribute and said: "Sonya is a really hardworking colleague who will be missed in the group. She was an excellent local councillor and secretary to the whole group for a number of years."

Now, four candidates have officially been nominated to contest the ward of Whickham North. They are as follows:

• Robert Abelson, Conservative Party

• Jeff Bowe, Labour Party

• Pat Chanse, Green Party

• Susan Craig, Liberal Democrat

Gateshead Council's democratic services have also stated that the election will cost the authority around £16,000.

Applications for postal votes need to reach the Electoral Registration Officer at the Civic Centre by 5 pm on Wednesday, October 9; applications can also be made online. New applications for proxy votes should also reach the Civic Centre by 5 pm on Wednesday, October 16; again applications can be made online.

Applications to vote by proxy on the grounds of physical ailment or work-related absence after Wednesday, October 16, can be made by 5 pm on Thursday, October 24 at the Civic Centre.

Voters will be required to show some form of photo ID in order to cast their ballots. Valid forms of identification, according to the Electoral Commission, include passports, provisional and full driving licences, blue badges, and the older person's bus pass. A complete list can also be found online.