VOTERS are casting their ballots in two council by-elections in Crediton today, Thursday, June 26.

The seats on Mid Devon District Council and Crediton Town Council have become available following the death of Councillor Frank Letch MBE at the age of 80 on April 8.

Cllr Letch, a Liberal Democrat, represented the Crediton Lawrence ward at the district council for 10 years and was chairman of the local authority when he died. He became a town councillor in 2004 and was Crediton’s mayor for 13 years.

Cllr Letch was also the town’s county councillor, a role that was filled in May when fellow Liberal Democrat Jim Cairney won the seat in the local elections.

The three candidates in the district council by-election are Terence Joseph Edwards for the Labour Party, Andy Hankins for Reform UK, and Tim Stanford for the Liberal Democrats.

In the town council by-election, Tim Stanford is again the Liberal Democrats’ candidate, and Gary Stanley is standing as an independent.

Short profiles of all the candidates in both elections were printed in last week’s issue and can be found online by visiting: creditoncourier.co.uk/news/meet-the-candidates-standing-for-vacant-crediton-council-seats-803470.

Everyone voting in person must show photo ID, such as a passport, driving licence, blue badge or an older person’s bus pass. You can use an expired ID if you are still recognisable in the photo.

Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm.

The address of the polling station you must vote at is printed on the poll card sent to you in the post. You can also find your polling station online by visiting: wheredoivote.co.uk.

On a separate note, Devon County Council and Mid Devon District Council will likely cease to exist soon as the government wants to create new large “unitary” councils across the country. Talks are ongoing.