TAVISTOCK has welcomed a new face to the town council after a co-option of a south west ward councillor last week.

Colin Rogers and Gareth Dempster both applied for the position and gave a short presentation to members at a meeting of the full council. Mr Rogers was successful after gaining a majority of votes.

New Conservative Cllr Rogers moved to Tavistock in 2007 and bought Tavistock Railway Station and has since refurbished the station building into separate houses with the intention of selling them on. He has also had a keen interest in politics since 1982.

Cllr Rogers told members: 'My wife and I have fallen in love with the town and its people. We are very settled here.

'My main core interests are the heritage of Tavistock and its wellbeing and to help the small businesses and people in the town.

'I was the chairman of a boys' club for many years and was sad to hear of the closure of the Tavistock Youth Café.

'There are always people who don't want to sit at home, but don't have many interests or play sports and they need somewhere to go.

'Hopefully that is something I could look at. I would like to be a councillor as I have more time on my hands these days, and the prospect of being a councillor really appeals to me.'

When asked by councillor Philip Sanders what his key priority would be if co-opted, Mr Rogers said: 'I think with my experience in business, at a time where everything is cost related, I would try to help the council see where money could be saved.'

The vacancy on the council was created following the resignation of Cllr David Rose earlier this summer.