A councillor who saw five members of the regeneration committee she chairs resign in protest at her leadership has been made Ottery’s new deputy mayor.

Councillor Josefina Gori was elected unopposed at this week’s town council meeting, along with new mayor Councillor Paul Bartlett.

The Herald reported last week how resignations from the Ottery Regeneration Working Group came after complaints Cllr Gori lacked ‘the necessary attributes’ for the role of chairman.

Cllr Gori said: “Despite all the criticism, I stuck to my guts, swallowed my pride and got on with the job. We have been very busy and I did my job and they were wrong.”

Retiring mayor, Cllr Glyn Dobson, had been in the role for 11 years and his deputy, Cllr Ian Holmes, for 10-and-a-half.

“It was time. I just got that feeling. We have achieved a great deal over that time,” said Cllr Dobson.

Cllr Roger Giles failed in his bid to be mayor after he was defeated in a vote. He told the Herald: “To be the mayor of Ottery would be a tremendous honour and I’m very disappointed my fellow councillors have not afforded me that honour.”