WIRRAL'S newest councillor has pledged to campaign for “accessible”, affordable homes for New Ferry after winning this week’s by-election in Bromborough.

Cllr Jo Bird won the poll with a majority of 47%, beating Conservative candidate Des Drury who won 28% of the votes, and will now take the seat vacated by ex-Labour member Warren Ward after he resigned earlier this year.

In a vote that had a turnout of 23%, Cllr Bird’s 1,253 votes were enough to win on Thursday and send her to Wallasey Town Hall.

Speaking after the result, Cllr Bird said: “I’ve listened and talked with thousands of people in this ward. Almost everyone is saying how important New Ferry is.

“New Ferry was devastated by a huge explosion, in March last year. At that time, I lived in Derry-Londonderry in Northern Ireland. In both places, I see communities that are doubly traumatised.

“Firstly by explosions and violence, and secondly by the ongoing trauma of government indifference, inaction and injustice – though the causes are different.”

She compared the impact of the New Ferry explosion to the Novichok attack in Salisbury this year, saying: “The Conservative government found £7.5m for Salisbury after events there, and gives tax breaks to the richest, but public funding for local services we all rely on has been cruelly cut to the bone.

“Wirral Council will be bidding for £500,000 from the Town Centre fund, which will be a good start, a new start for New Ferry.

“For people in our area, in Eastham and across the Wirral, we need affordable homes, built on brownfield sites that are accessible and community-led – not driven for profit.”

She added: “Thank you to everyone who made this fantastic result possible.”

Also on the ballot for voters in Bromborough were Vicky Downie for the Liberal Democrats who polled 17%, Independent Steve Niblock with 6%, and Green Party candidate Susan Braddock, who won 2%.