VOTERS in Bude and Stratton will be going to the polls on Thursday, October 27, to elect a new Cornwall Councillor for the Bude North and Stratton electoral division.

The by-election has been caused by the recent resignation of Nathan Bale.

Cornwall Council Liberal Democrats paid tribute to the work of their colleague, who has had to resign from the authority for health reasons. Nathan held the Bude North and Stratton seat, the largest on the authority, securing 72 per cent of the vote in the June 2009 election. He was previously a councillor on North Cornwall District Council (NCDC).

Commenting on his resignation, Cllr Jeremy Rowe, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the council, said: "I am very sorry that Nathan has had to step aside. He was a dedicated councillor who was very proud to represent his home town of Bude both on NCDC and Cornwall Council.

"At County Hall he was known as a tenacious opponent of the cuts to front line services being made by the Tory-led administration, especially those that affected Bude and Stratton. Nathan helped to found the Bude Sea Pool campaign and the prospect of this vital and popular facility being saved is testament to his efforts."

With nearly 5,000 voters, the Bude North and Stratton electoral division is currently the largest in Cornwall.

The Notice of Election is due to be published on Thursday, September 22, with the list of candidates standing for election published on Tuesday, October 4.

Members of the public have until midnight on Wednesday, 12 October, to register to vote in the by election.