How Salisbury voters could decide county's future
Getty ImagesThe Salisbury Milford ward, home to about 6,000 people, stretches to the east of the medieval city centre, with the train line on one side and the A36 on the other.
It has plenty of current and former council homes, as well some of the most expensive houses in the city.
People here are being asked to vote for who they want as their new councillor and the result could decide who runs Wiltshire Council.
Wiltshire Council leader Ian Thorn said: "In 40 years of campaigning this is most important by-election I can remember."
Since 2025, the council has been run by a minority Liberal Democrat administration, after no one party gained enough votes to take overall control.
Who runs Wiltshire Council?
The Salisbury Milford seat was held by Lib Dem Alan Baylis, who has resigned for personal reasons.
The Lib Dem control of the council is so slight in numbers, if they lose this seat, the Conservatives could attempt a takeover.
They now have 42 seats, the Conservatives have 38, Reform are on 10, and there are seven Independents.
Current Lib Dem leader Thorn relied on the Independents to narrowly win a vote to become council leader.
The Conservative and Reform UK councillors have tended to vote along similar lines, so could attempt a takeover if either wins Salisbury Milford.
Conservative group leader for Wiltshire Richard Clewer said voting for them would "help return Wiltshire Council to financially competent control".
But Thorn said "a Tory/Reform council will drag us back to the bad old days".
Who is standing?
The seat is being fiercely contested, with all parties spending a lot of time knocking on doors trying to convince voters.
Liberal Democrat candidate Mac Brown, currently a Salisbury city councillor, said the roads in and out of Salisbury need to be improved.
"I want a fair deal for Salisbury and investment particularly in highways, there's a lot of trouble with potholes and rat runs," he said.
"I will be lobbying my colleagues to ensure the needs we have for this population are taken care of."
The main contender, Conservative Laura Jones, is currently a parish councillor.
"I'll really hit the ground running, I want to see the area clean and tidy, the roads up to scratch."
Jones said if she wins, she will fight to bring back fortnightly black bin collections, reversing a Lib Dem reform to reduce collections to every three weeks.
"Residents have been saying to me they're worried about the changes," she said.
Sony Assuon is an Army veteran who is standing for Labour.
"I came here because of the military and now I'm raising my family here, I want to serve this community that has welcomed me," he said.
He also said that more money needed to be allocated to roads maintenance.
The Reform UK candidate is Simon Lever. He declined the invitation to speak to the BBC about the by-election.
When is the vote?
The polls open at 0700 BST and close at 2200 BST on 15 October.
As with other elections, ID is required, and polling station information can be found on the Wiltshire Council's website.
Votes will be counted from 2200 BST at Salisbury Guildhall, with the result expected soon after.
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