Five candidates in by-election battle

VOTERS will take to the polls on Thursday for the Alexandra by-election, which follows the death of Labour councillor Dilys Fletcher MBE.

Labour will be looking to maintain its grip on Oldham Council when the votes are counted at Oldham Civic Centre that night, from 10pm.

The ruling party currently has 43 seats, with the Lib-Dems on 14 and Conservatives on two.

Standing for Labour is Zahid Mahmood Chauhan, with Kevin Dawson representing the Liberal Democrats, Neil Allsopp for the Conservative Party, Derek Fletcher for UK Independence Party (UKIP) and Miranda Meadowcroft as the Green Party candidate.

The election was called after the death of Councillor Fletcher in February. The mother-of-five and grandmother-of-six, who was awarded the MBE in 1996 for her outstanding services to deprived communities and social housing, had represented the Alexandra ward since 2008.

A fundraising page for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice has also been created in Councillor Fletcher’s memory.

This can be found at www.justgiving.com/remember/53009/Dilys-Fletcher.

Members of the public can attend the count but must apply individually for a ticket in advance by emailing the Elections Team on elections@oldham.gov.uk.