THE first Liberal Democrat candidate for next summer's County Council elections has been announced.

Jack Satterthwaite, who lives in Barnards Green and is a current Malvern Town councillor, will be standing in the Malvern Chase seat next May.

The Malvern Chase seat has been held by the Conservatives since 2013, but was represented by Liberal Democrat Councillors Di Rayner and Steve Brown between 1989 and 2013.

He will stand against current Conservative councillor Lucy Hodgson.

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The Liberal Democrats came second last time the County Seat was fought on these boundaries in 2017.

The Malvern Chase ward covers the Barnards Green and Poolbrook areas of Malvern and as Wyche, Malvern Wells and Upper Welland areas of Malvern Wells Parish.

Cllr Satterthwaite said: “I want to see the County Council declare a climate emergency in Worcestershire, improve transport infrastructure in Malvern, and put in place much needed socially distanced high streets around the town to respond to the rising number of coronavirus cases.

“I’ve been dismayed to see the lack of action the Conservatives currently running the County Council have done to address these problems.

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“I’ve decided to run for the County Council seat to make sure there’s a local voice in the ward campaigning to get these things done.”

Cllr Kaleem Aksar, Liberal Democrat leader on Malvern Hills District Council, said: “I’m really looking forward to working with Jack to make sure that the people of Malvern Chase get a better deal out of their council.

“As Lib Dems, we are best placed to beat the Tories in the division and bring change to a Tory-run County Hall that is getting it wrong for residents far too often.”