THE voting public have now been told when they will get the chance to decide who takes their vacant district council seat.

Citizens in Malvern west ward have been without representation since the green party’s Luna Deller stepped down as reported in last week’s Malvern Gazette.

She has decided to take up a teaching role abroad and move her family to Malaysia.

The move has triggered a byelection, although whatever the result it will not change the overall political situation at the Conservativecontrolled Malvern Hills District Council.

The council has now revealed people will go to the polls on Thursday, July 5.

Polling stations will be at West Malvern Village Hall and The Scout Hut, in Cowleigh Road, Malvern.

There had initially been some confusion over the council’s byelection date when Green party chiefs were told a different day by the council – a fact they later corrected.

The Greens will be fielding Julian Roskams, currently a Malvern town councillor, as their runner and the Conservatives have announced Jennie Kelly, who was unseated in the ward last year, to stand on their ticket.

Labour’s Chris Burrows will be standing on their card, as the party follow through on their promise to contest every ward seat at every election.

The Liberal Democrats, who did not field a candidate against Luna Deller last year, have yet to meet to discuss whether they will stand a candidate this time around.

Keith Salkeld, Malvern party branch chairman, said: “The party has not yet met to discuss the byelection and any potential action we may take.”

A Liberal Democrat party meeting was expected to take place last Thursday to decide the issue.