Election of new member to borough

THE Conservatives have maintained their strength on West Devon Borough Council and their presence in Okehampton with the election of a new member.

Mrs Jayne Hill is filling the vacancy left by popular councillor David Hatch who died last month. She was invited to stand by Torridge and West Devon Conservative Association and was elected unopposed.

Although not a member of the association Mrs Hill said she always had a lot to say and had quite strong political views.

Rather than celebrating her position Mrs Hill voiced concern about the apathy which led to her being elected unopposed.

'We live in a democratic country and people's apathy bothers me more than anything. I got in without any competition and that's not a fair fight.'

Mrs Hill, a mother of two, divides her time between working part time as a food technology teacher at Tavistock College and practising homeopathy.

The party has nine seats on West Devon Borough Council while the Independents have 13 and the Liberal Democrats have eight.