West Thamesmead by-election candidates include resident taking on developer over cladding

Candidates for the upcoming West Thamesmead by-election have been announced, including a cladding campaigner fighting an ongoing dispute with the developer of a series of tower blocks in the area. The vote is scheduled to take place on December 19 following the resignation of Chris Lloyd at the start of this month.

Mr Lloyd said he decided to step down from the seat after moving to Wales to be closer to his family. Mr Lloyd represented the first elected Lib Dem councillor in the borough for 14 years after he defected from the Labour Party in December 2023 following a complaint he made to the group regarding homophobia not being 'satisfactorily' resolved.

Hoping to retain the seat for the Lib Dems is Steve Day, currently the Chair of the Residents' Association at Royal Artillery Quays. Mr Day and several other individuals living in the blocks previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that they were facing increased service charge bills and were unsure if they could sell their flats due to a dispute on the safety of the buildings' cladding.

READ MORE: Man arrested as police find knife after fight in Lewisham alleyway

READ MORE: London Underground live updates as Elizabeth Line part suspended with severe delays

A spokesperson for Barratt, the developer of Royal Artillery Quays, said in response that remediation works were due to begin on the buildings following approval from the Building Safety Regulator. Mr Day said he intends to push for a start date on the planned works and assist other residents who have safety concerns regarding their building.

Mr Day told the LDRS: "Alongside ending the cladding crisis at Royal Artillery Quays, I would like to push the council to remove the wall at the end of Erebus Drive, address the potholes on the roads and cycle paths and campaign for a pub and cafe."

He added: "I also would like to take on the scourge of fly-tipping around the ward, improve availability of public transport, tackle crime and press Labour to fund the DLR extension to Thamesmead, another promise Labour failed to deliver."

The Labour Party has put forward Jahdia Spencer as its candidate for the ward. The candidate spoke at the Labour Party conference last year as a representative of the Greenwich & Woolwich Labour Group on the use of artificial intelligence in hiring practices.

Ms Spencer told the LDRS: "My key priorities for West Thamesmead include building on the outstanding work of Cllr 'Lade Olugbemi in addressing environmental issues such as fly-tipping and potholes, advocating for better housing and renters' rights and campaigning for improved transport links to better connect our community."

She added: "I am especially passionate about engaging with young people—not only to understand the challenges they face but also to empower them to participate more actively in politics and their communities."

Siama Gulnar Qadar will be standing as the Conservative candidate for the seat. She is currently the South East London Chair of the Conservative Women's Organisation and said she would prioritise tackling crime, antisocial behaviour and fly-tipping if elected.

Ms Qadar told the LDRS: "Safety is a cornerstone of any thriving community – and crime and antisocial behaviour is too high locally. Everyone in West Thamesmead deserves to feel secure in their homes and on our streets. I will work to enhance police presence, strengthen partnerships with local organisations, and work with the community to make the ward safer."

She added: "Fly-tipping not only spoils the beauty of our streets but also erodes community pride. I will advocate for stronger enforcement, ensuring much swifter action when fly-tipping occurs. The Labour Party has run our borough for a very long time, and I think it's about time we put an end to their complacency in the places they have a history of taking for granted. I'm looking forward to making my case to residents over the coming weeks."

Anji Melanie Petersen will represent the Greens in next month's vote, alongside Reform UK's Ruth Handyside. The candidate previously stood for Reform in the Eltham Town & Avery Hill by-election last month, as well as for the Lewisham East ward in this year's General Election.

Polls for the West Thamesmead by-election will be open from 7am to 10pm on December 19. Three polling stations will be available on the day, including Broadwater Community Hall and Heronsgate Primary School on Goosander Way as well as the Discovery Children's Centre on Battery Road.

Anji Melanie Petersen and Ruth Handyside were approached for comment, but had not responded at the time of publication.

Have a story you want to share? Email joseph.coughlan@reachplc.com.

Don't miss out on the biggest local stories. Sign up to our MySouthLondon newsletter HERE for all the latest daily news and more.