A Preston councillor is standing down to join to front line efforts in the coronavirus pandemic.

Councillor Ian Donnell is stepping down from representing Preston Rural East.

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Now a qualified doctor he is moving away from Preston after completing his studies and becoming a junior doctor.

Dr Donnell said: “It has been my pleasure to serve the people of Preston as Ward Councillor for Preston Rural East. I want to thank my fellow councillors for making me welcome and my constituents for their support.

“I have had the privilege to meet a fantastic range of people in the city and will take many warm memories with me as I embark on my new career as a Doctor.”

Councillor Donnell was elected in May 2018 originally to represent the Greyfriars ward in Fulwood before being elected in May 2019’s all-out council election to represent Preston Rural East for the Conservatives.

Chief executive of Preston City Council, Adrian Phillips, confirmed there were no scheduled local elections for 2020 so the council seat would become a ‘casual vacancy’ which cannot be filled until the next local elections in May 2021.

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Mr Phillips said: “Councillor Ian Donnell, whose term as Councillor was due to end with the scheduled local elections on Thursday 7 May 2020, has stood down from the Council.

“Dr Ian Donnell, who served as a Preston City Ward Councillor for the last two years has moved away from Preston on completion of his medical training at Royal Preston Hospital. He will shortly begin his medical career as a Junior Doctor.

“Due to the suspension of local elections, the Council will have what is known as a ‘casual vacancy,’ which cannot be filled until the next local elections take place in May 2021. There are two other Councillors who remain in post for the Preston Rural East Ward.

“We thank Dr Donnell for his service on the City Council and send him our best wishes as he begins his medical career with the NHS in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic.”

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The stepping down of councillor Donnell leaves the Liberal Democrats as the official opposition party on Preston City Council as they have nine councillors, to the Tories eight.

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