VOTERS for West Devon?s most hotly contested parish council seats in last week?s local elections, Tavistock North, have given a thumbs up to independent councillors, after five out of the eight available seats were secured by candidates of no political party.
The Liberal Democrats took the remaining three seats and together with those returning unopposed in the south ward the party now has the the largest single political party on the council.
Easily topping the popularity stakes was long-standing member Cllr Norma Woodcock, the town?s deputy mayor, who was returned with 784 votes.
Closest to Cllr Woodcock in terms of votes cast was Anne Johnson, who was co-opted on to the council several months ago. She polled 697 votes.
Joining these two members, plus Roy Connelly, Caroline Keane, Robin Pike and David Stapleton, who retained their seats, are two new faces around the council debating table ? Independent Iain Andrews and Liberal Democrat Peter Jones.
Turnout for the vote was 37.94%.
Members in the Tavistock South ward were returned to their town council seats unopposed. It leaves the council with a make up of eight Independent, five Liberal Democrat, one Labour and one Conservative.
Many parishes in the southern end of the borough returned candidates unopposed.
Elections were held in Lydford and Peter Tavy.
In Peter Tavy, nine candidates fought for the seven available seats.
The successful candidates were Colin Abel, Maxell Allen, Geoffrey Cashell, Edward Dodd, David French, James Jeffery and William Lane.
Turnout was high at just over 50% ? 126 votes were cast.
And in Lydford, the seven seats were taken by Rona Baker, Kate Boyd, Philip Burgess, Linda Cole, Susan Holland, Patricia Martyn and Stephen Powne. There were nine candidates in total.
Turnout was even higher in this parish at 52.57% ? 174 votes were cast.