THE husband of Chippenham’s mayor is to stand in a by-election to fill a vacancy on Chippenham Town Council.

Liberal Democrat Terry Gibson, 70, will stand against Conservative businessman Anthony Milner, 31, in the vote on Thursday March 27.

The Hardens and England ward seat has been vacated by Rob Jones, who left to concentrate on his business after seven years on the town council.

Mr Gibson, whose wife Sylvia was also mayor in 2009-10, said: “I’ve spent so long supporting Sylvia that I know everybody.”

Mr Gibson, who lives in Carnarvon Close, said his top priorities are: getting Wiltshire Unitary Council to follow up on their responsibilities; ensuring roads and pavements are brought up to a better standard, re-installing one hour free parking in the town centre; revitalising the town for businesses and residents and ensuring young people have the opportunity to express their needs.

After growing up in Long Close and London Road, he completed an apprenticeship with Westinghouse and went on to serve 26 years as an electronics engineer with the army, returning to live in Chippenham on his retirement in 1989.

He has worked with long-term unemployed young people with the Amber Foundation and later with the Learning Skills Council, where he was part of the team designing and launching the Train 2 Gain project.

Anthony Milner, who is single and has lived in Chippenham for seven years, runs his own business AKM Photography in Bath.

His priorities are: modernising marketing and promoting the town online; bringing people into the town centre with music festival and children’s sporting events; giving youths a skate park; building a bigger and better market and making parking more affordable.

Mr Milner, of Celandine Way, said: “We should all be proud of Chippenham. Sadly the town has stagnated. I am one of the many independent shop owners who is fed up with how nothing positive is being done to promote our town. My aim is to bring people back into the town centre.

“Let me know what you think about the town at www.anthonymilner.co.uk.”