THE Trade Union and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) are to contest a parish council by-election at Warrington, caused by the resignation of a Labour councillor.

Local resident Bob Taylor will fight the seat in the Bruche ward of Poulton-with-Fearnhead Parish Council.

The by-election, on Thursday, December 10, follows the resignation for former council chairman Ian Johnson.

Bob Taylor was born in Warrington and has lived in Padgate for 37 years since getting married. He has two grown up daughters who both live and work in Warrington. They both attended Bruche Junior School before moving up to Woolston High school and then onto Lancaster University.

Mr Taylor has been a governor at Bruche Junior School. Before he retired he worked at Daresbury Laboratory and was recently involved with the “rights of way” dispute on Bennetts Recreation Ground where he, with the help of other residents, managed to keep it open for the people of the area against the wishes of a local developer.

He said: “I am a local man who would work hard on the parish council if I was elected.

“Labour have got a lot to answer for in Poulton-with-Fearnhead. Their councillor has resigned and cost taxpayers nearly £6,000.

“Over the summer, TUSC borough councillor Kevin Bennett exposed their secret plan for a gypsy site here in Bruche. They have still got £2 million set aside in their budget for that project but are refusing to tell the people of this town where they are going to put it.

“I agree with the people of this area that the site near ‘Bennetts Rec’ is not a suitable location. I want an end to Labour’s secrecy, I want Bruche taken off the list of potential sites and an open and transparent discussion between representatives of Warrington communities and the travellers, to work out an appropriate and mutually agreed site for travellers We need someone who will be open and honest with the people, we can’t trust Labour to do that.”

TUSC borough councillor Kevin Bennett (pictured above) welcomed the news that Mr Taylor would be standing.

He said: “The local Labour Party are now a serious threat to our town with their secret plans, their ‘closed door’ meetings and their bitter in-fighting. When casting their vote, people should not be fooled by what Labour have to say – putting another one of their councillors in power is a real risk to Warrington’s future. I believe Bob has the experience to be a really good parish councillor for Bruche and we hope that people will vote for him on Thursday December 10.”