Liberal Democrat Councillor for Radstock, Simon Allen, is to stand down at the next election in May 2015.

This is Simon's fifth year as a Councillor on Bath and North East Somerset Council, being elected in the 2010 by-election after the death of Cllr Allan Hall.

As well as representing Radstock, Simon has also held a position on the Council's Cabinet with responsibilities for Well-Being and has been the Chairman of the B&NES Health and Well-Being Board. Throughout his term of office, he has also continued to work as a Social Worker, specialising in working with people who have autism.

Speaking about his decision, Simon said: "The people who inspired me most to get into politics are my two daughters. I wanted to make our part of the world better for them, so that they would have the facilities they needed as they grew up and have somewhere to live in Radstock when the time came.

"However, over the past few months, I've realised I haven't been spending time with the very people who inspired me in the first place – my girls. I fully intend to redress that balance and have taken the difficult decision to step down. It has been an honour to represent our town and I have always sought to serve Radstock to the best of my ability."

During his time in office, Simon has been heavily involved in the regeneration of Radstock, including the redevelopment of the Victoria Hall, gaining funding for local community facilities (Whisty Hall, Working Men's Club, Writhlington Village Hall), creating safer streets for children with 20mph zones and has been a supporter of the redevelopment of the former railway land.

Local Lib-Dem campaigner, former Councillor, Alderman Bruce Shearn, commented this week: "Simon has been a credit to Radstock. Both he and the Liberal Democrats on the Council have really delivered for Radstock and we will continue to see the benefits of that for many, many years. After years of stalling, waffling and prevarication from the dominant Labour Party in Radstock, the Liberal Democrats are delivering for our town."