THE controversy over Tavistock Town Council's rate increase has sparked four contenders in the election for a new council member.

At close of nominations last Friday, candidates from each of the major political parties plus one independent had submitted papers for the seat on Tavistock's North ward, made vacant by the death of Cllr Harry Pearson last month.

The candidates are Peter Donkin (Liberal Democrat), Michael Pithouse (Affordable Town Council Tax), Harry Smith (Labour and Co-operative) and Patricia Westaway (Conservative).

The council is facing harsh criticism by members of the borough council for raising its rate demand by almost 400 per cent to help fund a lengthy legal battle over restoration work on its properties.

Peter Donkin stood unsuccessfully for Tavistock South last May. A member of Sustrans and Tavistock Forward, he said he would like to be able to carry on the work of his fellow Liberal Democrat Mr Pearson.

'I am very concerned about the issue of the rates being increased.'

Mr Donkin said the town council had 'a lot of responsibility' in terms of management of the properties it owns and he thought a review by an external expert could be called for.

Mr Pithouse, who is an Independent member of West Devon Borough Council, resigned from the town council in 1998 over the way it handled its financial affairs.

He said the council owned more than £6-million worth of properties and was not utilising its assets to the benefit of Tavistock.

'We should be a profit centre for the town rather than a burden,' he said.

Harry Smith, former deputy town mayor who lost his seat in the May local elections last year, said he would like to have the opportunity to work on projects he was unable to see through last year.

Mr Smith, who works in the planning department at British Aerospace in Plymouth, said he would like to see the old Bannawell swimming pool site developed, and he wanted better sports facilities for the town.

Pat Westaway said she was 'very disappointed' when she missed a seat on the council by nine votes last May and would give this election her 'best shot'.

'Basically, with my interests in the chamber of commerce and Tavistock Forward it made me more interested in what is actually happening in the area,' she said.

The election will be held on Thursday March 9 in Tavistock Pannier Market with polling between 8am and 9pm.

Anyone requiring a postal or proxy vote should obtain an application form from the returning officer at West Devon Borough Council offices in Tavistock which must be returned no later than 5pm on February 23.

Late applications for postal/proxy voting arising due to unforeseen illness can be accepted until 5pm on March 1.