A THIRD city council by-election will now be held in the Colinton/Fairmilehead ward after Liberal Democrat councillor Louise Spence steps down less than a week after winning her seat.
The ward has had three councillors step down over the last two months with Louise replacing Dr Scott Arthur, a Labour councillor who stepped down after being elected to Parliament as an MP.
Following Dr Arthur’s departure from the Edinburgh City Council, SNP councillor Marco Biagi then stepped down after being offered a position as a special advisor to the Scottish Government.
Now Dr Arthur’s replacement Louise Spence, who was elected just two weeks ago, has stepped down.
It was revealed on Friday that she would be leaving her newly acquired position on the Edinburgh City Council as she planned to move away from the Capital.
Spence’s campaign focused on her being a local to the ward, with her flyers and leaflets reading the ward deserved a councillor “who lives here.”
Spence’s house in the Colinton/Fairmilehead ward went up for sale on Friday just a day after she was elected to the city council on her campaign of living locally.
The former councillor’s four bedroom detached bungalow is available at offers over £730,000.
“Spence said: “I have had a sudden change in personal circumstances which meant I couldn’t in all conscience fulfil my role as a councillor.
“At this time, my focus must be with my family. I have informed my Liberal Democrat colleagues of my changed circumstances and offered my resignation.
“The Liberal Democrats rightly set high standards in terms of the service their local councillors provide.
“I myself argued that Colinton and Fairmilehead needed a local champion. While it would have been legally possible for me to continue as a councillor, I don’t believe it would be right to do so with my focus elsewhere.
“This is why I have made the difficult decision to resign my council seat. With another by-election already due in the ward in February because of the SNP councillor’s resignation, my decision means this new vacancy can be filled at the same time; at no extra cost to the taxpayer.
“This is clearly the right thing to do for Colinton and Fairmilehead. However, I know my decision will be deeply disappointing and frustrating for those who voted for me, for my council group colleagues and for all the Liberal Democrats who fought so hard to win the by-election.
“I am truly sorry at what has happened.”
