The by-election is being held for the election of a Preston City Councillor, following the resignation of former Councillor Harold Parker who resigned for health reasons after serving the people of Preston for 42 years.Polls open at 7.00 a.m. and close at 10.00 p.m and are at:

Sahara In Preston: 48 – 54 Fishwick Parade, St. Teresa’s RC Primary School, Downing Street and there will also be a temporary Polling Station on the junction of New Hall Lane and Tudor Avenue, Preston.

The candidates who are standing in the by-election are;

Luke Bosman (Liberal Democrats) has lived in the Fishwick area for several years and has previously worked as a union representative for eight years, which he feels has helped him gain an insight into the world of politics. Throughout his campaigning he has listened to how the people of Fishwick feel and therefore wishes to address the following issues;

• Implementing safer routes for school journeys
• Push for slower speeds on residential roads
• To help young people to get involved in the community more
•  The use of unauthorised motorbikes
• Support Brockholes wetland and Woodland Nature Reserve as well as the opening up and regeneration of Fishwick Bottoms.

Mr Bosman said he also wants to support the Jalgos Caribbean Club on Rose Street, which is currently being threatened with demolition to make way for the Tithbarn project.  Although it is not in the same vicinity he believes that most of the club members come from and around the Fishwick area.

Jennifer Mein (Labour Party) has worked as a County Councillor for the past four years and feels that because of this, she is only too aware of the issues which need addressing within the Fishwick community.  Throughout her campaign, she has knocked on over a thousand doors and listened to the people who count. Therefore, if elected, Mrs Mein will be addressing the following issues straight away;

• Waste collections
•  Dog fouling
• Fly tipping

Mrs Mein said: “They have all been serious issues in the past and I believe that they are the basic, minimum rights people of Fishwick should have.”

When asked about the future of Jalgos  Caribbean club, on Rose Street,   the candidate said that she would offer the club her full support but pointed out that the club is not in her jurisdiction.
She also asked the residents to remember that the current plans are only at the proposal stage for the Tithbarn Project and are not finalised.

Sharon Riley (Conservatives) has lived in the Fishwick area for over 32 years and has previously been a voice for the Fishwick lobbying council on a number of occasions. As a local resident herself, she wants to address the following issues, which have been raised throughout her campaign;

• The installation of bus shelters for the number 16 bus, which currently has no shelter
• A ranger for Ribbleton Park
• Better security of the cemetery and the installation of railings on the Brockholes Brow boundary
• Give the residents of Fishwick ample chance to voice any concerns and to ensure that the PACT meetings move around the Fishwick area