There’s an election happening in Bury today – but no one knows it’s happening

A council by-election is set to take place in Tottington today, April 2. Residents of Totty, Walshaw, and Affetside will cast their vote for a new representative after the shock departure of coun Luis McBriar earlier in the year.

A council by-election is set to take place in Tottington on Thursday, April 2. Residents of Totty, Walshaw, and Affetside will cast their vote for a new representative after the shock departure of coun Luis McBriar earlier in the year. 

Coun McBriar quit his post to pursue a different career, leaving the ward with an extra post to fill before the local elections in May. There’s just one issue – nobody seems to know it’s happening. 

“I actually didn’t realise it was tomorrow,” Jemma Pidluski, 38, tells the Local Democracy Reporting Service at the Dungeon Inn on Turton Road. The new pub landlady is in the middle of moving her entire life into her new home above the business.

“I’m very sidelined at the moment. It’s usually something I care a lot about, but because I’m in the middle of moving I’ve not had the chance to look at anything yet – and my poll card is still at my old address. 

“I probably will vote, I just need to look into it this evening.” 

Pidluski isn’t the only local out of the loop, however. Anthony Faulkner, 57, the owner of Sew Impressed on Market Street, sheepishly admits he also had no idea there was a second election day planned. 

“I’ll be voting now you’ve told me about it,” he said with a bashful smile. A long-term Conservative voter, he said he’s recently been starting to think more about the person than the party when he goes to the polls for local elections. 

“I wouldn’t say there are any really big political issues in the area,” he said. “There was a lot of anger when the council were going to start charging for parking, which would have caused murder. People would’ve stopped coming. But they’ve quashed that. So now it’s just the potholes, really, but that’s UK-wide isn’t it, not just Tottington.” 

And Mohammed Khan, 47, business manager at Pizza Bite, hadn’t heard of the byelection either. Though having just come back from holiday, and not a Totty resident, he had a reasonable excuse. 

“I also don’t really care about local politics,” Khan admitted. “But I do always vote, so I’ll definitely vote at the local election.

“Normally I vote for Conservative. I’m friends with one of the former Conservative MPs from Totty, so I definitely vote for him. 

“There really aren’t a lot of problems in Totty. The council does a good job, we’re happy with them. There’ve been no issues.”

Not everyone agrees. While enjoying the sun on a bench by Tottington bus stop, Andy, 60, told the LDRS he would be using the local elections as a ‘protest vote’. 

“I’ve voted since I was 18,” the Bricky who lives on the way to Elton said. “I used to vote Labour but I won’t be doing that this time. All you need to do is look around. There’s potholes everywhere. I can see three from here. They need to sort it out. 

“They don’t really have the money have they. They’re scraping and scrounging everywhere. And poll tax goes up every year and it feels like we don’t get anything for it. Just the basics. 

He hasn’t chosen who to vote for yet, though, Andy reveals, and will need to do some head-scratching tonight. 

Further down the road, waiting for a bus home, 35-year-old Matt also knew about the by-election, and also hadn’t made up his mind yet. 

Matt said: “I don’t know loads about the candidates, but I’ve had some of their letters through. I’ve seen the green party candidate around a few times, though I’ve never really spoke to her. I normally vote Labour, but I’ve been a bit unsure recently. But the concern for me and among a lot of my friends is about keeping Reform away. 

“I don’t think that’s a concern for this area. It’s been a fairly steady conservative vote for a long time, and I can’t see many of them voting that way. I imagine it will probably still end up being conservative.” 

Matt, who works in telecoms, also thinks all is well in Tottington compared to other parts of Greater Manchester. 

“We’re a very fortunate area, really. There’s not any major crime or anything like that,” he said. “There’s just the normal stuff, roads, litter, potholes.” 

Then there are those who know about the by-election – but don’t really care too much about it. 

Paul Batty, 65, looks amused by a question about the by-election.“I’m not into politics. Might vote tomorrow, might not,” he shrugged. “Actually, I can’t even vote because I don’t have my passport and you need ID now, don’t you? My passport’s in Little Lever.” 

He won’t divulge his political leanings, but doesn’t seem particularly bothered about voting in either the Tottington by-election or the second vote at the Greater Manchester-wide local elections on May 7. Batty has been the pub landlord at the Robin Hood for 31 years, and says not much has changed in that time except for the level of traffic due to a growing number of new houses.

Voting started at 7am and polling stations will close by 10pm. The results of the vote will be announced after the overnight count.