Bev Breese has been elected to Whitby Town Council's West Cliff ward in a by-election that drew criticism over its 6.54 per cent voter turnout and £5,000 cost.
A Whitby Town Council by-election has seen a candidate win a seat on the authority with a turnout of less than seven per cent.
A new councillor has been elected to represent the West Cliff ward on Whitby Town Council after receiving 112 votes with an overall turnout of 6.54 per cent.
Bev Breese was elected on Thursday, July 9, in a contest with one other candidate.
The other candidate, Amanda Louise Everson, received 13 votes.
Concerns about the relatively low turnout and cost of holding a by-election were raised by residents on social media.
Commenting on Facebook, one resident said:
“I would have voted if I’d known about the election. Aren’t we told anymore when these things are happening? No wonder such a poor turnout.”
Another Whitby local commented:
“A vote that really wasn’t needed. A cost of £5,000 so that 127 people could vote. This has to stop.”
A by-election for Whitby Town Council’s Stakesby ward earlier this year cost the authority £4,000 to organise.
Whitby West Cliff ward has an electorate of 1,941 residents, according to North Yorkshire Council.
Two ballots were also rejected for ‘voting for more than one candidate’ and for ‘being unmarked or wholly void for uncertainty’, the authority’s returning officer noted.
The parish council consists of 19 councillors who generally serve for a four-year term.
All councillors’ roles are voluntary, and members do not receive remuneration for the work.
The by-election arose following Sarah Blackwell’s resignation earlier this year.
The next full meeting of Whitby Town Council is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, July 28.
A by-election will also be held to replace a councillor on Scarborough Town Council on Thursday, July 30.
North Yorkshire Council’s returning officer has confirmed the four candidates in the Castle Ward by-election for Scarborough Town Council as:
- Robert Hall, Independent
- Stuart Noble, Green Party
- Susan Rumford, Reform UK
- Fiona Margaret Stephenson, Labour Party
Related Stories
5 Jul 2026 - Residents in Whitby are set to go to the polls this week to elect a new member of their town council. An election for Whitby Town Council's West ...
Record Multimillion-Pound Investment Promises To Fix North Yorkshire's Roads And Potholes
North Yorkshire Police Emergency Call Waiting Times Remain Low Despite Surge In Demand
Row Over £20,000 'Incorrect' Public Toilet Charges in Whitby
'Strong Fish Smells' Spark Objections To Seafood Business Application
Maternity And Neonatal Services Face £736,000 Funding Gap To Meet New Safety Standards
Concerns Raised Over Tourist Tax Powers In North York Moors National Park
Educational Outcomes For Coastal Children To Receive Major Boost Under New Pilot Scheme
Special Train Journey Evokes Precious Memories For Dementia Patients On The Yorkshire Coast
Free Flu Vaccines Will Be Available At Drop-In Clinics Along The Yorkshire Coast
Extracurricular Opportunities Set To Expand For Pupils In Scarborough And Whitby
Time-Travelling Children Uncover Scarborough's Geological Past
Solar Panels Confirmed For Whitby And Eastfield Public Buildings To Cut Energy Bills
