Why ward is only place to go to polls

NEXT month thousands of voters up and down the country will head to polling stations to vote in ward representatives at the local elections.

- BY GEORGE LYTHGOE Local Democracy Reporter

People will be choosing who they want as their next councillor or mayor, depending on what type of election they have. In Runcorn and Helsby, they will even get to pick a new MP following the resignation of Mike Amesbury.

Unlike most areas across Greater Manchester, Rochdale is the only borough that will be going to the polls.

Despite 2025 being a ‘fallow year’ for metropolitan districts in the city-region, the resignation of Elsie Blundell as Balderstone and Kirkholt councillor has triggered a by-election.