Lib Dems win Chichester council by-election

The Chichester East vacancy arose after Labour’s Kevin Hughes stepped down.

Lib Dem Bill Brisbane was elected with 430 votes ahead of the Conservatives’ Jane Kilby who polled 310 votes and Labour’s Clare Walsh who received 261 votes.

Mr Brisbane, who is a former councillor and long-time campaigner, said: “I am really delighted to have won the by-election and look forward to getting stuck into some of the challenges facing us in this ward.

“On the doorsteps residents expressed concern over affordable housing, the state of the roads, issues with social housing, the environment, car parking and the need for local jobs and improvement to the high street.”

Before retiring he was a town planner with a specialism in regeneration, was also a councillor in Kingston upon Thames and the lead on strategic planning there.

He will be promoting green initiatives, improved green walkways to the centre of Chichester, easier access for disabled people, park and ride schemes and more tree planting.

The Lib Dems now have 11 seats at CDC compared to the Conservatives who have 17, while there are three independents two Greens, two Local Alliance members and one Labour councillor.

Adrian Moss, the party’s group leader at CDC, said: “Bill has been advising us on the Local Plan for some time and having him on thecCouncil will be a huge boost. He brings real experience and is a great community champion.”