Three seats on Lydd Town Council will sit empty after no candidates came forward for the election that should have taken place on 23 July 2026. The Folkestone & Hythe District Council confirmed the vacancy in a formal notice issued by Returning Officer S. Priest on 29 June.
The notice makes clear the legal next step: a fresh by-election for the three vacant seats must now be held within 35 working days of the 23 July date. That forces the district council to set a new poll before mid-September, offering Lydd residents another chance to put names on the ballot paper.
Lydd Town Council operates with 16 seats. Its website currently lists 13 serving councillors, so the council will continue with a smaller team until the by-election fills the gaps. The last full contest in May 2023 saw all 16 seats up for grabs and drew a 30.97 per cent turnout from an electorate of 4,930. More recently, a single-seat by-election in January 2026 handed the post to independent candidate Tony Hills without a vote, after he was the only person nominated.
The council, led by Worshipful Mayor Bob Jones, runs from the Guildhall on High Street and can be reached on 01797 320999. The district authority has yet to announce the exact by-election date but will publish it online once set.
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