AN East Devon campaign group has called for district council election candidates to sign up to a ‘pledge’ initiative- hailed as “the first of its kind.”

AN East Devon campaign group has called for district council election candidates to sign up to a ‘pledge’ initiative- hailed as “the first of its kind.”

Communities Before Developers (CBD) members claim their mooted scheme would allow residents in the Sidmouth and Ottery areas “to check whether their candidate really intends to represent people’s views.”

They last Friday published a set of seven pledges that district council hopefuls, standing in looming elections, have been challenged to sign up to.

Four CBD members will stand for election in the May 5 poll.

Campaigners claim the promises will “help sort good quality hard working candidates from the ones who prefer to serve their own interests.”

CBD’s ‘Candidate’s Pledge’ centres on development-related issues that include:

l Agreeing to oppose developments deemed to “compromise” precious countryside, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Jurassic Coast.

l Prioritising the interests of existing residents over those who might move to the area if more houses were built.

l Pushing for 40per cent affordable housing in any development, whether or not a developer claims they can’t afford it.

Campaigner Sandra Semple, not standing for election, said: “It can be really hard to make a decision on how to vote in council elections because often candidates aren’t well known. You don’t know whether you are voting for someone who will work for the community or not. It’s great if you know your candidate well and are confident that they will represent your views but too often people end up voting along party lines by default, which can be rather a hit and miss affair to say the least.”

Candidates can view the pledge at www.communitiesbeforedevelopers.org An East Devon District Council spokesperson said the authority would not comment on such a matter in the run-up to an election.