CANDIDATES John Stewart and Hayley Spencer will be competing for a place on Melksham Town Council at a by-election on March 19.

They are fighting for the seat left vacant after Conservative councillor Paul Coward stepped down while he undergoes cancer treatment.

Liberal Democrat candidate Ms Spencer, from Blackmore Road owns comic book shop KomiX in Church Street and has run it for nearly four years.

She has also lived in Melksham all her life. If elected she hopes to help boost businesses and create better parking, among other things.

She said: “I'm looking to be a town councillor as I am already a strong, active member of the Melksham community, and this is the next logical step to be able to give back more, to provide a voice for more people in town, and to encourage the town and county councils to listen, and be more active on the things that I already feel passionately about and I know others do too.”

Conservative candidate Mr Stewart, of Longleaze Lane, has lived in Melksham for five years with his wife Evelyn. He is a surveyor who is also a volunteer tree warden for the town. He hopes to help find the balance between modernising and preserving the town.

He said: “I would work towards maintaining and improving Melksham for the benefit of all in a mood of harmony and shared aspiration.

“Melksham has many assets especially those who live here. The new campus and sympathetic enhancement of Market Place are two examples where we can show Melksham off at its best.

“I would like to help ensure that Melksham continues to be a pleasant town to live and work in and also to visit.”