Appeal for new town council candidates

Budleigh Salterton residents are being invited to stand for the town council, creating the first election it has seen for 20 years.

Since 1995, whenever Budleigh Salterton town council have been due for re-election, there have been more places than applicants, meaning all the councillors have been elected automatically, without voters getting the chance to choose.

With the next elections due to be held in May, the council, which has 12 seats, is hoping to bring this to an end, by getting new candidates to come forward and force an election to be held.

Council chairman and town mayor Caz Sismore-Hunt said: “If we have 18 people stand and the same people go back on, then that’s the choice of the town.

“If we had 18 and most of us got voted off that’s the way it is, but it must be the choice of the town, and the town hasn’t had the chance to choose for 20 years.

“We need good councillors who care about Budleigh Salterton. It’s not for the glory. It’s purely because you want to do something for the town. You want the town to be better.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about can contact the council offices at the Public Hall, in person or on 01395 442245.