CANDIDATES vying for two seats on a town council have set out their pitch to voters.

A by-election is being held to fill two vacancies for the Blaenavon West ward which has attracted five candidates, including two from Reform UK which is the only political party contesting the town council by-election.

The party won two of the six seats in Sir Fynwy Torfaen at the Senedd election in May, and got its first county council seat in Torfaen in 2025.

Reform’s candidates are engineer and HGV driver Nigel Cuttell and health service worker Andrew Moncrieff while the independent candidates are Brett Ford, who is a carpenter with a housing association and also a member of a local rock band, freelance IT worker Terry Gardener and Andrew Pritchard.

The Reform candidates have promised to “push for speed limit reviews where appropriate” rather than what they call a “blanket” 20 mile per hour limit. Torfaen Borough Council is responsible for local speed limits and must follow guidance from the Welsh Government which was updated following the September 2023 introduction of the 20mph limit in built up areas.

They also say they will take action over vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

Independent Mr Ford has described himself as a volunteer and supporter of the Workmen’s Hall while Mr Gardener has been a board member at the hall and treasurer of the Blaenavon branch of the Royal British Legion.

Both have pledged to support community groups through the town council.

The by-election takes place on Thursday, September 17 with polls open from 7am to 10pm. Any registered voter aged 16 or over from is entitled to vote with polling stations at Forgeside Community Centre, Bethel King Street Baptist Chapel and Blaenavon Workmen’s Hall.