Voters going to polls tonight for by-election after councillor quit

FIVE CONTEST DISTRICT COUNCIL SEAT VACATED BY GARETH JONES

- By EDDIE BISKNELL Local democracy reporter

A BY-election contest in South Derbyshire is taking place today following the resignation of a Labour councillor linked to a controversial planning decision.

Voters will go to the polls tonight to elect a replacement councillor for the Seales ward on South Derbyshire District Council, controlled by the Labour Party.

Four of the five major parties have fielded candidates, along with an independent, in a bid to replace former councillor Gareth Jones, Labour's former chairperson of planning, who resigned in September after two-and-a-half years on the authority.