The polls are open for the Folkestone Harvey Central ward by-election.

Voters will be heading to polling stations to cast their ballot for a new Shepway district councillor in what could be an interesting vote in the lead-up to the general election and full district council elections next May.

The by-election was triggered after Conservative councillor David Johnson resigned after a row over claims he owed several thousand pounds to a neighbour.

The ward is set to be merged with Harvey West at next year’s elections under recommendations by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England in January cutting the number of councillors from four to three.

The Harvey Central ward is also represented by Hugh Barker while Harvey West is served by Cllr Rory Love and until last week, George Bunting, who passed away after a battle with illness.

There are six candidates representing six parties at the election with polling stations open at the tourist information centre in Tram Road car park, Parish of Our Lady Catholic Church in Guildhall Street, United Reformed Community Hall in Castle Hill Avenue and 7th Day Adventist Church in The Parade, The Bayle.

The candidates standing are:

• Rodica Wheeler (Con) and Folkestone town councillor.
• Wendy Mitchell (Lab) former councillor in the ward between 1997 and 2003.
• Tom McNeice (LD) former town mayor between 2010 and 2011
• David Callahan (UKIP) current Hawkinge town councillor who is looking to take the party’s first district seat
• Dave Horton (Green)
• Seth Cruse (Trade Union and Socialists Against Cuts)