VOTERS in the Kingswinford North and Wall Heath ward will be heading for the polls later this month for a by-election.

Four candidates, representing Conservative, UKIP, Labour and the Green party, will be hitting the campaign trail in their bid to represent the ward.

The seat has been vacant since December 2015 when Conservative Councillor Natalie Neale resigned from her post due to personal reasons.

Local businessman Ed Lawrence, who recently become a father for the first time with the birth of his baby daughter, will be hoping to retain the seat for the Conservatives on February 25.

The Blandford Mere estate resident said: “It’s great that Dudley South Conservatives have selected me to fight the by-election for them.

“I believe being local, running my own business and having spent numerous years as a Special Constable – helping my local community – will assist me to be a good councillor for the area should I be successful.”

Mick Forsyth hopes to turn the seat purple as he stands for UKIP, saying there are a “number of ongoing issues in the ward that both Labour and Tory’s have failed to sort out”.

He added: “I hold Kingswinford close to my heart and would love the opportunity to represent local people.

“I want to continue the good work the existing UKIP councillors are doing already. I believe UKIP have shown a new approach to local politics and I hope I can join them in this journey.

“My main commitment to the residents of both Kingswinford and Wall Heath is that I will stand up for their issues and not be restricted by a party whip.”

Lynn Boleyn, who was presented with an MBE by Prince Charles in December for services to the community of Wall Heath, has been selected to stand for Labour.

Well-known locally for spearheading the drive to save Maidensbridge Primary School from closure in 2005 to 2006, Lynn was elected as a local councillor in May 2006 following the successful campaign. Lynn, who also won the last ward by-election in May 2012 following the resignation of the Conservative Councillor Paul Woodall, said it was like history repeating itself.

She added: “I really enjoyed my time as councillor and I feel I did a lot of good things during my time representing the people of Kingswinford North and Wall Heath.

“I am very much looking forward to trying to win my seat back again.”

Representing the Green Party will be data analyst Andi Mohr, who said: “As a member of the Green Party I am very much anti-austerity and would like to stand-up for our public services, which have taken massive cuts.

“We feel that Labour has not done enough to stop the cuts, which have been imposed by the Conservative government.

“Many people in the ward voted for greens in the last election, and I want to give people another choice – as we are a democracy – and another way to stand-up against Labour and Conservative.”

Poll cards are currently being delivered to thousands of homes, providing information on the nearest polling stations and how to vote.

Ward residents have until Tuesday (February 9) to register to vote, which can be done online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote or by calling 01384 814740.