TWO candidates have put themselves forward to fill the vacancy for Grove ward on Berwick Town Council.
Anne Reid (Independent) and Keith Thorburn (Conservative) will go head-to-head in next Thursday's by-election.
Mother-of-three Anne, who is married to David, is a member of the Prior Residents Association and a parent governor at Prior Park Firs
t School.
She said: "I've lived in the Prior area all my life, as have a lot of my family, so I think I have a good idea of what it needs.
"I want to be a voice for local people - the young, the elderly and the middle-aged - and help to raise standards on the estate."
She also has the backing of local Liberal Democrats, who have decided not to put a candidate forward.
Coun Isabel Hunter, who also represents Grove ward on the council, said: "I have known Anne Reid for a number of years now and feel she has the commitment and local knowledge to be a very good local councillor.
"I look forward to working with Anne to get the best for local people, and I hope residents will vote for her on March 25."
Retail worker Keith, a former Berwick High School pupil, is campaigning on a platform of fairer parking charges, more jobs and affordable housing for the town.
"Berwick is taken for granted by the county council," he said. "It is unfair that we have the highest parking charges in the county when you can park for free in Wansbeck and Blyth.
"It is not right that there are so few job opportunities and that it is so hard to find affordable housing. We can't go on like this.
"I am ambitious for Berwick, but if we want change it can't be business as usual. A new generation of local people need to get on to Berwick Town Council and make things happen."
