Exclusive by Alan Quick

JUST two candidates stood for the single vacant seat on Crediton Town Council and at tonight’s election count it was an outstanding result for Liberal Democrat Bob Wright over Independent candidate, Tim Matthews.

The election for a candidate to represent the Lawrence Ward on Crediton Town Council occurred due to the resignation of Bill Dixon.

The election took place today, Thursday, December 1 and polling stations were open from 7am to 10pm.

The election count followed at Crediton Congregational Church.

Nick Sanderson, returning officer, Mid Devon District Council, said that 711 votes had been cast and turnout was 24.67 per cent.

He announced that Bob Wright received 525 votes and Tim Matthews 186.

There were no rejected papers.

Bob Wright said following his election: “Thank you to everyone who voted for me.

“It is a fantastic result for the Liberal Democrats in Crediton and for local democracy.”

Mr Wright has lived and worked in the Crediton area all his life and he and his wife, Priscilla have one grown up son.

He has been a Mid Devon District Councillor for Lawrence ward for nine years and in that time has represented the area on several committees and working groups.

Bob is known for his hard work on his road safety campaign as an active member and organiser of the Community Speed Watch team and is a supporter of the introduction of a 20mph speed limit in residential areas.

Away from his council work, Bob is a trustee of CHAT, a local charity that has been helping to prevent homelessness in Mid Devon since 1995.

Bob also helped to set up the Crediton Food Bank.

In his spare time he looks after rescued animals, which consists of two Dartmoor ponies, four goats and two cattle.

He is known for his work supporting countless local residents, campaigning to keep hospital beds at Crediton Hospital and issues concerning parking.

Tim Matthews has lived in Crediton for eight years and lives with his partner Marie and daughter Annalise.

He teachers piano at Queen Elizabeth’s School and Hayward’s Primary School and is a noted concert pianist.

He supports Devon Wildlife Trust, The Dog’s Trust, Help for Heroes and “Justice for Marine A”.

Tim is an expert on Devon and Cornwall’s Celtic history and works as an early morning cleaning supervisor at the Wetherspoons pub in Crediton.

He supports a number of charities and his community choir, Crediton Singers and was one of the founders of the Musicmakers project and concert series in Crediton.

During the recent Referendum campaign Tim worked hard for the Grassroots Out and Leave EU groups.

He said he was passionate about environmental issues, the protection of green spaces in the town and said he believed any new housing should be for local people.

Tim said the Town Council should do more to promote St Boniface and the history and heritage of the town.

He was campaigning for a proper bypass, to sort traffic and parking problems, especially at Threshers every morning during term-time, air pollution and wants parking charges reduced and said he did not want a Costa Coffee in Crediton.