Pontesbury Parish Council

NOTICE UNDER LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1972 (Section 87(2))

VACANCY FOR A COUNCILLOR

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

that a casual vacancy has occurred in the office of Councillor for Cruckton Ward of Pontesbury Parish Council following the resignation on 13^th April 2026 of Councillor Louise Jones

Rule 5(2) of The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules, 2006 now applies.

The rule allows TEN ELECTORS for the parish [ward] in which the casual vacancy has arisen to request the Returning Officer to hold an election to fill the vacancy.*  That request must be made within FOURTEEN DAYS, calculated in accordance with the rules,** of the date of this notice.  The fourteen-day period ends on 18^th May 2026.

What if a request to hold an election is not received during the permitted time?

Rule 5(5) of the above Rules will apply.  The Parish Council must, as soon as practicable after the expiry of the fourteen-day period, co-opt a person to fill the vacancy.

The Returning Officer’s address is:

Electoral Services, Shropshire Council,

The Guildhall, Frankwell Quay, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY3 8HQ

The telephone number for further guidance is 0345 678 9015.

This notice is dated 27th April 2026

Debbie Marais (Parish Clerk) clerk@pontesbury-pc.gov.uk

*           There is no form of words for this request, which might simply be a letter headed with such words as “We the undersigned being electors for the [Ward of] … Parish, call for an election to fill the vacancy arising from the [death][resignation] of …”.  A template entitled “Request for an Election” is available to download from Shropshire Council’s website – www.shropshire.gov.uk - under “Current Council Vacancies”.  It is helpful if the ten signatures are accompanied by printed names and addresses. 

**             In calculating the notice period, day one is the day following the date of this notice; a Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a Bank Holiday or day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning shall be disregarded, and the period closes at midnight on the fourteenth day after the date of this notice. Rule 5(2) of The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules, 2006 now applies.

This week a consultation was launched to seek the views of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, and Worcestershire residents regarding Government proposals to merge police forces across England and Wales.

The Government announced that an independent review into these proposals would be carried out, which could see the existing structure of 43 police forces reduce to 12. This would be the biggest change to policing in more than six decades.

These proposals weren’t in Labour’s manifesto in the General Election; therefore, I am committed to representing the public voice. Through this three-month consultation, I hope to hear from as many West Mercia residents as possible – regardless of whether people are for or against the proposals.

Links to the consultation and further information are available below:

Consultation – Public consultation - police force mergers

Website – Public consultation - police force mergers | West Mercia PCC

Digital Switch Over News:

Newsletter

Connected Together: Support with the Digital Switchover

Landlines are changing and the UK’s telephone network is going digital. These changes will affect everyone who has a landline they’d like to keep using.

We understand that change can feel overwhelming. With a little support and reassurance, we’re here to help you understand what is happening and ensure you and your loved ones stay connected without disruption.

That’s why we’re proud to support BT’s Connected Together initiative, offering the tools, guidance and confidence to support you and your loved ones through the switch.

What’s happening?

This is a once-in-a-generation, industry-wide upgrade to future-proof the UK’s landlines.

The analogue network that most home phones work on today is no longer fit for purpose and can't keep up with the demands of modern life. That outdated network will be switched off for all landline providers in January 2027. BT’s new home phone service is called Digital Voice.

The landline is not going away, and for most, the switch is simple. No one will be left disconnected.

Here are a few key points to be aware of:

• The switch won’t cost you a penny
• Phone numbers won’t change
• Over 99% of existing handsets are compatible with Digital Voice
• Benefit from free and helpful calling features such as 3 Way Calling, Voicemail and Call Protect to help block scam calls and notify you of any suspected nuisance calls
• For those that may need extra support, BT offers free engineer visits to make sure everything is set up correctly and working perfectly. Just make sure to confirm or book the appointment when they get in touch. They’ll take care of the rest.
• Worried about power cuts? Don’t worry. BT provides back up power solutions meaning you can still make and receive calls during outages, and it’s free for those who need it most.
• If you don’t have broadband, BT will provide a dedicated landline service allowing you to use your landline in the same way you do today. No new equipment is needed, and you won’t require a home visit from an engineer.

We know that changes like this can raise questions or cause concern. Especially if you or a loved one uses a landline for safety, independence or day-to-day connections.

To make things easier, BT has put together a Conversation Toolkit – a straightforward, practical guide designed to help you talk with a friend or family member about what the switch means and how you can support them. Whether it’s a quick phone call or a relaxed chat over a cup of tea, starting the conversation early can really make a difference.

By sharing this information with others, you can help make sure more people feel informed, reassured and ready for the change.

What you can do

• Download the Conversation Toolkit on BT’s Connected Together website for helpful advice on how to talk about the switch
• If you, or someone you know has additional needs and needs extra support making the switch, contact the landline provider. For BT customers they can register via webform on the Connected Together website or by calling the Customer Care team
• Talk to a friend, neighbour or family member who might benefit from early support.

Start the conversation today.

Find out more at: www.bt.com/connected-together or call BT’s Customer Care team on 0330 1234 150.