POLLING stations have opened in the Larkswood ward by-election.
Five parties are vying for the seat, which was left vacant when former Conservative councillor Ed Northover moved to Hong Kong for work after serving residents since 2009.
The Tories, Labour, the Greens, the Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Party are all fielding candidates.
Conservative candidate John Moss has pledged to campaign against high-rise developments in favour of building family homes, as well as providing more free parking for shoppers in Chingford Mount and Station Road.
Labour's representative, Peter Woodrow, has pledged to push for better railway access to London and Stratford by resurrecting the Hall Farm Curve, a rail link between Chingford and Stratford, as well as providing more social housing and family-sized homes.
Green Party candidate Bill Measure also supports the reopening of the Hall Farm Curve, which he hopes would provide more employment, and wants environmental concerns to underpin council policy.
Former councillor Graham Woolnough is standing for the Lib Dems, and is campaigning for Mayor of London Boris Johnson to overturn the council's approval of a 294-home housing estate to be built on Walthamstow Stadium.
Liberal and ex-councillor James O'Rourke has vowed to put residents first if he is elected, with weekly advice surgeries, a monthly walk around the ward to find and tackle problems, and the promise that he will answer or return all telephone calls within 24 hours.
People can vote at the following polling stations: Rush Croft Sports College in Rush Croft Road, Chingford. South Chingford Methodist Church Hall in New Road, Chingford. St Anne's Church Main Hall in Larkshall Road, Chingford and St Edmunds Church Hall, in Larkswood Road.
Waltham Forest Council said the new councillor is likely to be announced tomorrow morning. They will join fellow Larkswood representatives, Tories Nick Buckmaster and Bernadette Mill.
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