A NEW Labour councillor has been elected in Chepstow after the party’s candidate won a town council by-election. 

Welsh Labour’s Amy Thompson-Lancaster defeated Welsh Conservative candidate Keith Eric James Allen in the St Kingsmark ward contest held on Thursday, December 7. 

Ms Thompson-Lancaster received 214 votes against 182 for the Tory candidate, while four ballots were spoiled. Turnout was 25 per cent. 

The result means Labour now holds 15 seats on the 19 member council, though it doesn’t operate on party lines. The Liberal Democrats have two members and the Conservatives one. There is also an independent councillor. 

Voters in Abergavenny will be going to the polls to fill a vacancy on Abergavenny Town Council this Thursday, December 14, while there will also be a town council by-election in Monmouth the following week. 

The two candidates fighting for the vacant Park ward seat in Abergavenny are independent Julian Edwards and Welsh Labour’s Diane Elizabeth English.  

In Monmouth the Town ward by-election takes place on Thursday, December 21 and Labour, the Conservatives and an independent will contest the seat. 

Welsh Labour’s candidate is George Rist, the candidate for the Welsh Conservatives is Mandi Jane Rugen-Hankey while Jamie Treharne is standing as an independent. 

Polls in both by-elections will be open from 7am to 10pm.