Elected councillors have been warned some may have compromised their position by signing a populist anti-development pledge before the elections.

In the run-up to the May elections, some councillors in East Devon signed the Communities Before Developers seven-point pledge that included not to support building in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Town clerk John Wokersien said this week: “I am not aware of any councillors in Exmouth who signed it, but there are those in other parishes who did. Before you sign anything, you should think really carefully.

“If you stand on an anti-development position and then serve on a planning committee, you could be open to accusations you have not considered an application impartially and on its merits.”