A NEW town clerk has been appointed for Tavistock Town Council, pending the retirement of the current clerk, Roger Howard.

Carl Hearn has longstanding management experience in local government, most recently with Cornwall Council.

His early career was with North Cornwall District Council where he worked extensively with town and parish councils, being appointed head of service in 2002.

From 2007 he has worked with Cornwall County Council to help develop governance arrangements for the new Cornwall Council. Carl  will start in the role on August 1.

Carl is a company secretary who was educated at Callington and the University of East Anglia.

Tavistock town mayor Philip Sanders said: 'Although we're sad to be saying good bye to Roger after many years of service, we wish him a very happy retirement.

'We are very much looking forward to welcoming Carl in August and will be working with him to continue to build on the work done by his predecessor to help keep Tavistock a great place to live in and visit.'