Independent win in Ottery St Mary rural by-election

PUBLISHED: 16:06 21 September 2018 | UPDATED: 10:53 24 September 2018

Clarissa Place

Councillor Claire Wright with Councillor Geoff Pratt, who won the Ottery St Mary Rural by-election. Picture: Geoff Pratt

Archant

Cllr Geoff Pratt. Ref sho 1386-47-14SH Picture: Simon Horn

Geoff Pratt received 715 votes after residents headed to the polls yesterday.

Mr Pratt was one of five candidates contesting the seat after Matt Coppell had to step down after failing to attend a single meeting in six months.

He said: “I am very pleased with this stunning victory and am particularly pleased that I polled more votes than the other candidates put together.

“It was clear that the people of the Ottery Rural Ward are concerned about Government proposals for a minimum of 844 houses to be built each year west of Ottery St Mary,particularly when our schools are at capacity , the Coleridge Medical Centre is at capacity and the Ottery St Mary Hospital is under threat of closure.” The turnout for the election was 34.7 per cent with 1,233 ballot papers issued.

The full results were as followed:

Margaret Bargmann (Green Party) 24 votes

Nicholas Benson (Liberal Democrats) 51 votes

Richard May (The Labour Candidate) 20 votes

Geoffrey Pratt (Independent) 715 elected

John Sheaves (The Conservative Party Candidate) 421 votes

Turnout for the election was 34.70 %

Electorate: 3,553

Ballot papers issues: 1,233

There was one vacant seat.