Michael Rodgers will represent the Grange ward on Letchworth Garden City Council

A MEMBER of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) has been elected to a town council after a by-election was uncontested.

Michael Rodgers, who stood for UKIP, will represent the Grange ward for Letchworth Garden City Council after a candidate intending to stand for the Town Council Supporters Party had to withdraw due to work commitments.

Mr Rodgers, of Kite Way in the town, replaces Cllr Jackie Angell, who resigned for personal reasons.

A by-election had been scheduled for Thursday, February 16, but will now not take place due to the withdrawal.

Following Mr Rodger’s election, 21 of the 24 councillors represent Help Eliminate Letchworth Parish council and wish to abolish the council.

The 21-year-old told The Comet he was “surprised” that it wasn’t a three-horse race between himself, HELP and the Town Council Supporters Party.

He added: “I care about my local area and what happens in the community and want to provide people with the services they need and want. The HELP group want to abolish the council but I want to reform it from within and make sure taxpayers’ money is well spent.”

Regarding HELP’s decision to not field a candidate, council chairman Cllr Frank Lovett said: “The town council had just passed a resolution to ask NHDC to carry out a Community Governance Review with a view to dissolving the town council. HELP did not field a candidate because it seemed perverse to spend £1000’s of taxpayers money on running elections to install a replacement councillor on a council that’s asking to be abolished.”