A CALL has gone out to Broadway villagers to go to the Lifford Hall and Shear House on November 15 to vote in a new parish councillor.

The vacancy follows the death of village stalwart Ken Barling earlier this year.

Nobody can remember when there was last a by-election.

Normally there is not enough interest and the parish councillors co-opt but, this time, enough villagers wrote to Wychavon District Council which automatically triggered a by-election.

At a parish council meeting last month, chairman Peter Riley said: "This by-election is costing the people of Broadway about £3,000.

"We want them to make sure they use their vote otherwise the money will be wasted."

The candidates are Kay Haslam from Springfield Lane, Amanda Peters from Orchard Avenue, Joy Stock from Averill Close and Ken Lambley from Sandscroft Avenue.

Retired airline steward, Georgina Haslam, aged 49, moved into the village seven years ago and loves it so much she wants to be involved with its preservation.

She said: "I am concerned about future development. I think there is a need for facilities rather than commercial interests and houses."

Mother of two Mrs Amanda Peters, 33, said: "I want to become a parish councillor to help get things done.

"I care about the children of the village and help with the youth club but I am equally concerned about elderly people and the uneven paving in the High Street which causes them difficulty."

Former parish council chairman, Ken Lambley, is making a comeback.

He said since his retirement from the council in 1999, he has had time on his hands.

Chairman of the village Probus Club and a village charity trustee, Mr Lambley wants to put his knowledge of the village and parish council to use again. He said: "I am especially interested in the youth of the village." Chairman of the Lifford Hall trustees, Joy Stock has lived in Broadway all her life.

She said: "I am very interested in the Gordon Russell development, and also in the preservation of the footpaths and walkways in and around Broadway." The polling stations open from 8am until 9pm, and the result is expected to be announced at the Lifford Hall at about 10pm on the same evening.