The five candidates who will fight this week's by-election for Harrogate Town Council ward

Voters are going to the polls this week for the second by-election in six months at Harrogate Town Council.

This Thursday’s electoral contest for the Coppice Valley Ward follows the resignation in June of Councillor Austin Wildmore.

The Lib Dem councillor was elected in May 2025 when he won 40% of the votes cast, as compared to 25% for his nearest rival, Christopher Julian Gelber of Reform UK.

The turnout was just 26% and total votes cast was 813.

The Lib Dems currently hold 14 of the 19 seats on the town council, the Conservatives have three, Reform UK has one and there is one Independent.

In March 2026, Conservative Tom Martin won the Harrogate Town Council by-election for Valley Gardens, beating Lib Dem Nat Slater by 456 votes.

The full list of candidates for the Coppice Valley Ward by-election on Thursday, August 6 is:

McManus Rebecca Clare, (Liberal Democrat)Shrago Jonathan Lloyd, (The Conservative Party)Townend Darren Lee, (Reform UK)Worrall Tamsin Jade, (Green Party candidate)

Harrogate Town Council was established in April 2025, following a local government reorganisation which saw the creation of the Unitary Authority of North Yorkshire Council.

The election of the first members of the new Town Council took place on May 1, 2025.

This week’s election process is being administered by North Yorkshire Council.

The cost of the election will be met by Harrogate Town Council.

Full elections are due in May 2027.