Chiseldon and Lawn The election this year in Chiseldon & Lawn is a by-election, caused by the death of sitting councillor and deputy mayor of Swindon Brian Mattock. Coun Mattock was elected for his seat in 2018 and the four-year term runs out next year, so the winning candidate in this ward in May will only serve for a year before having to stand for election again. Although polls last year were delayed for a year by the Covid-19 pandemic, future elections will be held according to the original cycle, rather than moving everything on a year. Chiseldon & Lawn is a ‘sister’ ward to next door Ridgeway.
Tributes have been paid from across the council chamber to Swindon’s deputy mayor and Brian Mattock, who died at the weekend. Coun Mattock was a long-serving Conservative councillor. A former deputy leader, he had held cabinet posts and chaired committees after first working as a council officer. He was due to step up to succeed Garry Perkins as mayor in May – and was active in council and in committees until very recently despite managing a serious medical condition for some years.
Swindon Borough Council leader David Renard was saddened by the news. He said: “Brian was really one of the good guys.