By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter with additional reporting by Harry Mottram: A councillor has stepped down from Bath and North East Somerset Council to focus on her health after being diagnosed with cancer.
Deborah Collins praised the screening programme at Bath’s Royal United Hospital as she said she would be stepping down early to focus on her health. Ms Collins has been one of the two Liberal Democrat councillors for the Widcombe and Lyncombe area of Bath since the May 2023 local elections.
Ms Collins said: “I’m very grateful for the screening programme and the excellent care at the RUH which I’m confident will lead to my full recovery from cancer. Sadly, I am a long way from being back to normal and able to deal with the demands of being a councillor, so I have had to take the decision to stand down early and focus on my health.”
A council by-election will be held in the Widcombe and Lyncombe ward on Thursday October 9. Anyone planning to stand in the election will need to submit their nomination papers to the returning officer at the Guildhall by 4pm on Friday September 12.
The current composition of the council is now Liberal Democrats (39), Labour (7), Independents (4), Green Party (3), Independents for B&NES (3), Conservatives (2), and one vacant seat
By Harry Mottram: I met Councillor Deborah Collins the new Liberal Democrat representative for the Widcombe and Lyncombe ward in Bath back in 2023 at of all places the garden centre in Widcombe – hence the photo. Deborah had joined Alison Born of the same party as the joint representatives for the ward having replaced Winston Duguid who stood down at the last council election.
“I have big shoes to fill as Winston was a well known and hard working councillor,” she said, “and he was very helpful introducing me to people and getting me up to speed on all the ward’s issues.”
Deborah lives in Lyncombe – or as she joked West Widcombe – due its location.
Her dad was in the army and so she lived in many different places – mostly on Salisbury Plain – but was born in Malta. Aged 62 Deborah is a retired lawyer with a career mainly in central Government in ‘senior leadership roles’ and later for Southwalk Council in London in management roles. Bath Voice wishes her well with her treatment.
Bath Voice and Local Democracy Reporters
The journalists are funded by the BBC as part of its latest Charter commitment, but are employed by regional news organisations. A total of 165 reporters are allocated to news organisations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland including Bath Voice. These organisations range from television and radio stations to online media companies and established regional newspaper groups. Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities, second-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
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