District council by elections set to take place

Aveland Ward covers the parishes of Aslackby and Laughton, Dowsby, Dunsby, Haconby and Stainfield, Pointon and Sempringham and Rippingale.

There are four candidates standing. They are: Kyle Mark Abel (Reform UK), David Aaron Burling (Labour Party), Brynley Heaven (Green Party), Tony Vaughan (Conservative Party).

Belmont Ward covers the Parish of Londonthorpe & Harrowby Without.

There are five candidates standing. They are: Declan Thomas Peter Gibbons (Independent), Sean Duncan Hothersall (Green Party), Richard Stephen Litchfield (Reform UK), Susan Elizabeth Nash (Labour Party), Adam Neil Stokes (Conservative Party).

There was also an uncontested election of a member of Pointon and Sempringham Parish Council which was won by Ian Mansell.

Polling stations will open at 7am and close at 10pm.

The district council says all voters at a polling station must show an accepted form of photo ID to be able to vote. Anyone who does not have an accepted form of ID can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate to use at the polling station. The deadline to apply is 5pm on Wednesday December 3, 2025.

Full details are available online at www.southkesteven.gov.uk/voterinfo or by calling the elections office on 01476 406080.

Returning Officer Karen Bradford said: “Local elections are an important way to take part in the democratic process. However we ask that voters check what they need – and where to vote – in advance to make this as straightforward as possible.”

For those who have chosen the postal voting option, completed postal ballot papers can be returned using Royal Mail, but voters should ensure there is enough time for it to arrive. It must be received by 10pm on Polling Day for it to be counted.

Alternatively, postal votes can be handed in to an authorised officer at the council offices in Grantham during office opening hours of 9am-3pm - or at a polling station on election day. Voters will be required to complete a Postal Vote Return Form when handing in their vote. Also, an individual can only hand in up to five postal votes, plus their own, at the council office or a polling station.

Postal votes must not be posted in the regular letter box of the council offices as they will be rejected. SKDC is required by law to reject any postal votes delivered by hand if the Postal Vote Return Form is not completed.

There is a third option for voting still available – with a deadline of 5pm on Wednesday December 3, to apply to vote by proxy. This is where someone else can be nominated to vote on your behalf (a proxy) if you cannot go to the polling station in person.

All details on candidates, voting, deadlines and full information can be found online at www.southkesteven.gov.uk/December11