AN 18-YEAR-OLD is hoping to become Rochford District’s youngest ever councillor.

A by-election is taking place at the council on Thursday November 26 and 18-year-old Liberal Democrat Dan Irlam, of Rochford Garden Way, Rochford, hopes to win the seat.

The election for the Rochford ward is taking place due to the death of Gill Lucas-Gill earlier this year.

He is up against Labour candidate Matt Softly aged 36 as well as Mrs Lucas-Gill’s widower Michael.

Dan said: “I don’t want to be seen as a ‘youth candidate’, I want to represent all the residents in our town.

“But I do think it would also be useful to have someone with a different viewpoint on the council. Maybe it’s time for a change”.

Dan is a winner of the ‘Duke of Edinburgh Award’ and he both lives and works in Rochford, so he knows the town well.

He said he has been getting out and speaking to people with his Lib Dem campaign team.

“I believe the work of the councillor should be 90 per cent listening to residents and trying to get things done for local people. It is definitely not lecturing anyone or making decisions behind closed doors”.

Candidate and widower Michael Lucas-Gill hopes to carry on the work of his late wife by become councillor for Rochford ward.

“My wife was the elected representitive for this ward but she died suddenly in September. I was going to stand alongside her next year in May. Unfortunately becasue of what’s happened I have had to bring it forward to stand in this by-election to carry on the good work that Gill did.

“She was a very hard worker. She did care about the residents of the ward first of all and that is what I intend to do as well.”

The Rochford by-election is on Thursday November 26.

The other two candidates, alongside Mr Irlam and Mr Softly, are Nicholas Cooper,aged 55, for UKIP and Mrs Lucas-Gill’s widower Michael, 72, for the Conservatives.

Mr Lucas-Gill hopes to carry on the work of his late wife.

He said: “My wife was the elected representitive for this ward but she died suddenly in September. I was going to stand alongside her next year in May. Unfortunately becasue of what’s happened I have had to bring it forward to stand in this by-election to carry on the good work that Gill did.

“She was a very hard worker. She did care about the residents of the ward first of all and that is what I intend to do as well.”

WE decided to test Dan’s knowledge of Rochford and his general political knowledge so asked him five short questions, which are shown below:

Name 5 issues in the Rochford district at the moment:

I have been doing a survey and issues I have found are: Lots of potholes in the roads, problems with street lights and also worries about the fact they go off at midnight, dog fowling, policing is a concern and the reduction of the planning committee at RDC is a worry.

How many members are now on the development control committee since the change last month?

Dan’s answer: I’m not too sure, but I know it has been reduced to mainly the conservative councillors.

Answer: 13.

How many houses are planned for the big Hullbridge Development application?

Dan’s Answer: I don’t know

Answer: 500

Name the two other Rochford ward councillors on Rochford District Council at the moment: Dan’s answer: I’m not sure.

Answer: Jerry Gibson and Keith Gordon.

What was the name of the two political parties which merged to form the Liberal Democrats?

Dan’s answer: The Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party (correct)