A judge has ruled last May’s election for a Winsford Town Council ward void due to a paperwork blunder.

Former town mayor Gina Lewis, Margaret Dolphin and Graham Cawley were elected councillors for Over on May 7, 2015, but a two-day election court hearing held in Winsford on March 17 and 18 heard that their nomination forms were invalid as they had been seconded by people who did not reside within the Over ward boundaries.

All three have resigned and an election has been forced, which will take place on May 5.

Former Over councillor Charlie Parkinson petitioned the High Court to review the elections, claiming the three candidates who successfully won seats had submitted flawed nomination papers.

Successful challenge

His Honour Judge Andrew Saffman upheld the petition, which has been welcomed by Mr Parkinson, of Eddisbury Liberal Democrats.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Parkinson said: “I am a Democrat.

"The democratic process by which we are all governed starts with the proper nomination of candidates at all levels of the electoral process, from the smallest town council to Parliament itself and it is to the judiciary that we in local politics turn to for guidance when the rules set down by Parliament are not followed.

“Democracy is too important to be left to the politicians.”

Chief executive of Cheshire West and Chester Council Steve Robinson – who acted as returning officer for May’s general, borough and parish elections – was also a respondent in the hearing, as well as Mrs Lewis, Mrs Dolphin and Mr Cawley.

Mr Robinson announced earlier this month that he is stepping down from the role he has held for the past eight years, but a spokeswoman for the authority said his involvement in the election court trial has no bearing on his decision to leave.

Chief executive of Cheshire West and Chester Council Steve Robinson
Chief executive of Cheshire West and Chester Council Steve Robinson

Mr Robinson said: “It was clear once the matter was raised that the nomination papers were not valid and there would have to be another election.

“This could only be triggered by the petition hearing.

“In my evidence to the court I was clear that this needed to happen.”