The Liberal Democrats will hope to hold to an Ingol and Cottam seat it won with a comfortable majority four years ago.
Cllr Neil Darby is seeking re-election, having sat on Preston City Council since 2012 and held roles including deputy mayor. Only three party’s stood candidates four years ago but this time the Greens and Reform UK have joined the Conservatives, Labour and Lib Dems on the ballot sheet.
In our ward-by-ward profiles we’re giving you an opportunity to learn more about each candidate before polling day in each of the 16 wards up for election at Preston City Council.
Read more: Preston City Council local elections 2026: Full candidate list, how to vote and more
Where is Ingol and Cottom ward?
The map below shows the ward boundaries of the area.
What’s the prediction?
Pollcheck is currently forecasting the Liberal Democrats will hold the seat.
Who are the other councillors?
Only one councillor is up for election for Ingol and Cottam ward. The other two councillors John Rutter (Lib Dem) and Ben Ward (Lib Dem) are not up for re-election.
Who are the candidates?
We asked each candidate to complete the following three questions – so you can see more about them, why they are standing and what they believe in. They appear in alphabetical order.
Derek Barton (Labour)
Derek Barton did not answer the questions individually but instead sent the following profile:
Derek has lived in Ingol for 34 years, he is a 79-year-old former Councillor that never lets his age or disabilities get in his way. Derek was chair of Preston Planning Department the last time he was a councillor, Chair of the former Preston Young Homeless Project.
Education was his passion, he was Chair of the former Education Liaison Committee as well as a former Chair of Ingol CC Primary school, Vice Chair of Pool House CC School and Chair of the Cottom CC temporary governing body that built the school. He also taught over 350 young people in the area to swim, run the football clubs and guitar club.
Derek was the last active committee member of the old scout hut now the Intact Centre, he persuaded them to take over the centre and helped with the original Lottery bid to create the wonderful centre it is now. When he finished being a Preston City Councillor, he was responsible for the public response for the for the reprovision plan of Whittingham Hospital that said the hospital should not close completely. He later became a volunteer Mental health worker with MIND for many years and helped many people get the support they needed.
Derek fully supports the Labour Preston Model endorsed by Andy Burnham the Mayor of Greater Manchester and if elected would be the voice for Ingol that is missing at the moment.
Neil Darby (Liberal Democrats)
In a few words, tell us about yourself…
I moved to Preston nearly twenty years ago, living in Tanterton for most of that time before moving to Cottam in 2024 with my family. I work for a family business doing admin and marketing in the tourism industry, where I have been for ten years now. I help several local charities either by sitting on their boards or as an ambassador, and I admire just how much work volunteers in our city do to make Preston a better place. I am also very proud to captain my local inclusive touch rugby team who are an amazing bunch – and who I’m joining doing the Keswick to Barrow charity walk with this weekend, raising money for Lancashire & Cumbria Blood Bikes (find our sponsorship online!).
Why are you standing?
I love our community spirit in Preston. There are more people out there who are prepared to get up and help make our city a better place to live – and I have had the privilege of meeting so many of them as a councillor in Ingol and Cottam, and as a former mayor. But too often as a volunteer it can feel like you are swimming against the tide. I want to continue to represent residents in Ingol, Cottam, Tanterton and Lea Town so that I can work with people from across the board – residents, volunteers, police, council, schools, our whole community – to make our city and our neighbourhoods a better place to live. From potholes to playgrounds, social support to schools, I want to continue to stand up for our area and help to make Preston proud.
Why should people vote for you?
I have a record to be proud of and I want the opportunity to continue to deliver for you. I have played a leading role in the ongoing campaign to get our much-needed new school, ensuring local families aren’t left behind as our community grows. As Chair of the local PACT, I work closely with police and residents to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour to keep neighbourhoods safe. Furthermore, as Chair of Ingol & Tanterton Neighbourhood Council, I have helped drive tangible local changes, including the long-awaited improvements to Ingol Dip. And as Mayor of Preston in 2022/23 I took pride in presenting our city in its best light and raised money for local charities.
As a part of Preston Lib Dems, I will continue to advocate for common-sense solutions. Reform UK’s control of Lancashire County Council has failed to fix our potholes on time, and Labour on Preston Council continues to waste public money while neglecting our part of Preston. On May 7th, vote for a councillor who listens, acts, and delivers for Ingol and Cottam – vote Liberal Democrat.
Sarah Hart (Conservatives)
Did not respond
David Preston (Reform UK)
In a few words tell us about yourself….
I am a resident within the ward and have been for over the past decade after I left the army with my family. I work full time as an HGV Driver. I have also been involved with the neighbourhood council for over a year and I am also active within other elements of the community.
Why are you standing?
I have decided to stand as the political spectrum is changing and the time has come for some common sense to be brought back into it. Over the past several years we have seen elected officials navigate the system to help themselves whilst leaving the residents in their wards losing out. As working class I see the need for local services to be invested in and that’s what I intend to do.
Why should people vote for you?
I believe people should vote for me as I am looking to bring accessibility to constituents and also transparency in what the council will be doing for them.
Toby Worth (Green Party)
In a few words tell us about yourself…
My name is Toby and I’m 21 years old. I moved to Preston about a year and a half ago and, in that short time, it has really become my home. I was born in Devon and raised in Dorset, but I’ve found my feet here in Preston. I work as a welder for a small company and, like many people, I understand the challenges of getting by during a cost of living crisis.
Why are you standing?
I’m standing to give people who want to fight hate with hope a name they can vote for. As a tradesperson, I believe everyone deserves fair and equal opportunities, and I want to stand up for all members of our community.
Why should people vote for you?
I’m a welder at a small company just trying to get by in a cost of living crisis. I’m a normal person who will always support normal people and not pander up to those who look down on others.
How do I vote?
You need to be registered to vote and you can visit a polling station between 7am-10pm on Thursday 7 May to cast your vote, or you can vote by post or proxy if you have registered to do so. To vote in person you must take ID with you – a full list of the accepted list of ID documents is on the city council website.
Visit wheredoivote to find your nearest polling station and the city council has full details on the rules around voting.
When will we know the results?
The election count is on Friday 8 May from 9.30am at the Guild Lounge in Preston Guild Hall. We’ll be there to give you live updates and all the results as they come in during Friday. And you can see all our local elections coverage.
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