VOTERS are going to the polls today in York, in a crucial by-election which could change the balance of power in the city.

Residents in the Heworth Without ward will today elect a new councillor, following the untimely death of Conservative Bill Bennett two months ago.

Coun Bennett took the seat from the Liberal Democrats by only 35 votes on May 3, and the by-election campaign has been hotly contested in recent weeks.

The Liberal Democrats are currently the ruling group on City of York Council with 19 seats out of 47. A victory for their candidate Nigel Ayre would be a boost for the party, after they suffered widespread defeats in May.

Labour is the second largest group on the council, with 18 seats. The party finished a distant third last time round, but a win for their Margaret Wells would see it draw level with the Lib Dems, and could pave the way for it seeking to take control of the council.

York businessman Adam Sinclair is seeking to regain the seat for the Conservatives, who now have seven seats. The party went from zero to eight in May, before Coun Bennett's sudden death in July took it back to seven.

Charles Everett and Michaela Knight are also contesting the by-election, for the Green Party and British National Party respectively.

Today's vote will be the first by-election in York since February 2001, when David Evans retained the old Bishophill ward for Labour, following the death of Carol Wallace. Ironically, Bill Bennett was among the losing candidates on that occasion.

Polling stations in Heworth Without are open until 10pm tonight, and the count will follow immediately after the close of polls.

  • The result will appear on this site as soon as it is announced tonight. The result is expected by midnight. For full reports, reaction and analysis see tomorrow's edition of The Press.