Future Shepton candidate Simon Edwards has won the Shepton Mallet Town Council West Ward by-election held on Thursday 7 May 2026.

Residents in Shepton Mallet's West Ward went to the polls on Thursday, 7 May 2026, to elect a new councillor to Shepton Mallet Town Council.

Three candidates stood in the by-election, with one seat available.

Future Shepton announced on Friday that its candidate, Simon Edwards, had been elected following the count.

The group thanked residents who took part in the vote and said voters had backed keeping "national party ideology out of town council politics".

The declared results were:

• Simon Edwards, Future Shepton — 477 votes
• Natalie Reidy, Reform — 359 votes
• Caroline Hobbs, Liberal Democrats — 299 votes

Polling stations were open from 7 am until 10 pm on Thursday, with voting limited to residents in the West Ward.

The by-election was held to fill a vacant seat on the town council.

Download our Nub News App!

- It’s FREE and available now
- Breaking news notifications
- Your Town in Your Pocket

Shepton Mallet Town Council said ahead of the vote that it wanted residents to read candidates' campaign material carefully to help them make an informed decision.

More local stories

• Shepton animal rescue launches monthly lottery fundraiser
• Shepton traders invited to book for Collett Park Day

Subscribe to the free Shepton Mallet Nub News newsletter Get the biggest Shepton Mallet stories straight to your inbox.