THE Green Party?s first town mayor has been selected to fight the West Devon and Torridge seat at the general election. Peter Christie, 54, is currently in his second term as mayor of Bideford and is the youngest person to hold the post. He is a long serving member of Bideford Town Council and Torridge District Council. In 1989, he stood in the European elections and achieved second place, beating both the Liberal Democrats and Labour. Mr Christie is a lecturer in geography and family history at North Devon College and also lectures for the Open University in geology and social history. He began his working life in the Merchant Navy and later gained two degrees. He moved to Devon in 1976. He became mayor of Bideford 20 years ago. Mr Christie says his election priorities will be the building of affordable homes on brownfield sites; the re-use of empty accommodation above town centre shops; a commitment to drawing up a national energy policy based on energy saving and renewable energy sources; a national incomes policy; opposition to new supermarket developments; fair prices for farmers and support for sustainable agricultural practices, and extra taxes on second homes. West Devon Green Party co-ordinator Martin Quinn, who lives in Tavistock, said the party was delighted to have a candidate of such ?standing and experience?. ?His many years of experience on town and district councils have given him a profound understanding of the issues affecting the lives of people in Devon today,? he added.
