An independent candidate and Ottery Town Councillor has triumphed at the by-election held for the Ottery St Mary Rural Ward.
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.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here