A BY-ELECTION will be held in West Devon next month, to fill the Tavistock South ward seat on the town council, vacant following the death of Cllr Betty Batchelor in February. The election will be held on Thursday May 18. There will be two polling stations ? one in Whitchurch Parish Hall and one in Tavistock Parish Church Centre. Polling cards will be sent to electors living in the South ward ? the election is likely to cost the town council in the region of £4,050. Cllr Batchelor, 87, held the town council for Labour for more than 25 years. A staunch socialist and former member of Plymouth City Council and Devon County Council, she was mayor of Tavistock in 1995. She died peacefully at her home in Bishopsmead following a long illness, having attended council meetings until just a few weeks before her death. Anyone wishing to stand for the seat on the town council can obtain nomination papers from Tavistock Town Council or West Devon Borough Council. Nominations must be submitted to the borough council after April 7 and by noon on April 20.
