Voters in Edgeley and Cheadle Heath will go to the polls next week to elect a new councillor following the death of town hall stalwart Sheila Bailey. The late Coun Bailey was hailed as a ‘titan’ of Stockport politics by her Labour colleagues, while figures from all parties paid fulsome tribute to her contribution over more than three decades.
Now the communities she served since 1990 must choose her replacement from three candidates vying for the opportunity to carry on her work. The ward is traditionally a Labour stronghold - councillors Matt Wynne and Louise Heywood currently holding two of the three seats.
But the by-election comes against a backdrop of internal splits in the group, and it remains to be seen whether this could open the door for a surprise result for the Lib Dems or Greens. The by-election will be held on October 13.
READ MORE : ‘She was a titan’: Tributes flood in for ‘formidable’ Stockport councillor who ‘never stopped fighting’ to improve people’s lives
