Greens win Frome West seat in Somerset Council by-election

The Green Party has held on to the Frome West seat on Somerset Council after Dominic Ellison won the by-election with 40.3% of the vote.

Dominic received 663 votes in the poll on Thursday 3rd September, with a turnout of 21.68%.

Liberal Democrat candidate Drew Gardner was second with 554 votes, followed by Reform UK’s Joseph Williams with 218. Labour’s Christopher David Wildridge received 89 votes and Conservative candidate David Salter Quantrill-Simon received 87.

The by-election followed the resignation of former Green councillor Michael Dunk after an unsuccessful appeal against his conviction for his role in a Just Stop Oil protest in 2022. He was sentenced to 26 months in prison for causing a public nuisance and was later released on licence.

Speaking after the result, Dominic said he was “absolutely thrilled” that residents had put their trust in him.

He said his priorities would include improving social care, tackling flooding and river pollution, improving public transport and ensuring new housing is supported by the necessary infrastructure.

“I stood because I think Somerset can do things differently,” he said. “We can build a social care system that supports people to live independently, with real choice and control, rather than waiting until people reach crisis; we can take flooding and river pollution seriously; improve public transport and reduce the pressure of traffic on our communities; and make sure that when new homes are built, the schools, health services, transport and other infrastructure people need come with them.

“I’m proud to take those priorities to Somerset Council as a Green councillor because Green politics is about exactly that combination of principle and practical action – making our communities fairer, healthier, more resilient and better places to live.”

Dominic has worked across social care, housing, social enterprise, co-operative development, regeneration and the voluntary and community sector.

He has also worked with local authorities and other public bodies, with a focus on public services, independent living, community-led regeneration and economic development.

“Politics is changed by people who turn up, so huge thanks also to the 30 or so people who door knocked, delivered leaflets and made this possible,” said Dominic.

“The Green Party is looking forward to the full Somerset Council election in May 2027. Now is the time to get involved.”

Pictured: l-r Frome Green Party councillors Helen Kay, Dominic Ellison, Shane Collins and Martin Dimery