No by-election needed for Castle Rising Parish Council as Stuart Thomas Smith is elected

No by-election will be required in Castle Rising next year after just one nomination was received for a parish council vacancy.

This comes after Lord Greville Howard quit as chairman of Castle Rising Parish Council following 35 years in the post, launching an attack on newcomers to the village who had increasingly opposed his leadership.

Following the closure of nominations for the upcoming by-election, scheduled for January 18, one valid nomination was received.

As a result, Stuart Thomas Smith has been elected unopposed, and West Norfolk Council has confirmed there will be no by-election next month.

Lord Howard’s departure came amid growing tension between members on the parish council, which has even led to a police probe.

In his resignation letter in November, Lord Howard said the character of the council had changed as a result of new arrivals.