CONSERVATIVES in Tavistock are celebrating, after their candidate won an easy victory in last week's town council by-election, taking the seat from the Liberal Democrats.
Jane Ramsey topped the poll with 384 votes, beating closest rival Anthony Everitt by more than 100 votes. Mr Everitt, who stood for the Liberal Democrats, polled 264 votes. The third candidate, Harry Smith (Independent), took 101 votes.
The by-election attracted a turnout of 19.55%, very slightly up on the last by-election held in the town.
Mrs Ramsey said she felt 'pretty good' about the result.
'I put a lot of work into it but I'm still pleasantly surprised. It was a good by-election, very well fought — it was neck-and-neck for a while but it was nice when we surged ahead,' said Mrs Ramsey, a civil servant who works for the Child Support Agency in Roborough.
She said she had never served as a councillor before but was looking forward to the experience.
'It will be a big learning curve but I'm hoping people's confidence in me will be justified. That people will turn out and vote for you is quite humbling — it puts things into perspective,' said Mrs Ramsey, whose first council meeting will be next Tuesday.
The Tavistock North ward by-election was called following the resignation of Liberal Democrat David Stapleton earlier this summer.