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Four candidates will contest the upcoming Van ward by-election for Caerphilly County Borough Council on Thursday February 19.

The election is being held following the death of Cllr Christine Forehead, who had represented Labour on the council since its establishment in 1995, and before that served on the former Rhymney Valley District Council.

Ahead of polling day, each party was invited to set out why their chosen candidate was in the running.

Listed here in alphabetical order, here’s what the candidates had to say:

Welsh Labour candidate Matthew Ferris is a former teacher who spent 22 years as the head of history at St Martin’s School.

As a “long-standing” trade unionist, he served as NASUWT Cymru’s Caerphilly branch secretary before working full-time for the union in the South West.

He has also chaired the Caerphilly branch of the Royal British Legion and worked to set up the schools’ annual remembrance service at the cenotaph.

Other projects include organising a community event to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and campaigning for a memorial on Caerphilly Mountain to honour a Canadian pilot.

Mr Ferris played rugby for Bedwas and Caerphilly and moved into coaching and management at the latter club following his retirement.

“Matt is proud to live in the community that he hopes to serve in and believes that local people should address local issues,” his party said.

Plaid Cymru candidate Jeff Grenfell is a mechanical engineer who has worked for companies including Aston Martin and JCB, and who currently works in the aerospace industry in Cwmbran.

He serves as a Caerphilly town councillor for the Twyn ward and is a member of Van Community Council, where he represents Lansbury Park.

If elected, he said his key priorities include campaigning to tackle antisocial behaviour, including off-road bikes; “getting empty social housing back into use faster” and calling for work to address road conditions and the maintenance of green spaces.

Plaid said: “Jeff has worked both in Wales and abroad and has always been proud to say where he comes from.

“If elected, he hopes to give as much part to the Van community as possible.”

Reform UK candidate Russell Larke said he has “proudly lived in the Caerphilly borough since 2008 and have built both my home and working life here”.

With a background in economics and business, he is currently completing a Master’s degree in systems thinking in practice.

“That combination means I look at decisions through both an economic and practical lens, focusing on how money is spent, what delivers real value, and how policy choices affect people in the real world,” he said.

“I care deeply about economic regeneration and the future of our town centre – Caerphilly has huge potential that isn’t fully realised.”

He added: “I’m standing for councillor to bring common sense, economic literacy and practical, evidence based decision making to the council, focused on regeneration, opportunity and making the borough an even better place to live and work.”

The Welsh Liberal Democrats were also invited to set out why their candidate, Tony Potts, was running in the Van by-election, but had not responded at the time of publication.