LABOUR, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party will battle it out in a by-election next week – but the Conservatives will not.

The Tories are not contesting the Witney East ward of Witney Town Council, calling it a waste of cash as all seats are up for election next year.

The January 6 poll was called after Conservative councillor Louise Chapman was disqualified for failing to attend a single meeting in six months.

Liberal Democrat candidate Mark Balaam said: “I have decided to stand in Witney East because I am unhappy with the poor level of representation that we get from our current council.” Mr Balaam is campaigning against the Cogges link road plan, the “mass over-expansion” of housing in the town and wants to stop youths playing in cemeteries.

Labour’s Duncan Enright is also opposing the link road, to run from the junction of Oxford Hill and Jubilee Way, around the Cogges estate to the Station Lane roundabout by Sainsbury’s, and with a new crossing over the River Windrush. Conservatives have backed the plan.

He said: “I am most passionate about the vital issues, which are largely non party-political, but are very controversial and on which the town council is on the wrong side.”

The Green Party’s Kate Griffin said: “I live in Witney East. I really love it here and I know I could fight for the interests of people here.”

She pledged to also fight the link road, protect green spaces and back Fairtrade status for the town, which endorses products that give third-world producers a “better” deal.

She said: “Becoming a Fairtrade town sends a really strong message that we are a town that cares about fair play.”

The 16-member council has one Liberal Democrat, two Independents with the rest Conservative.