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By-election to decide new Fremington councillor

Friday, 20 March 2026 07:28

By Alison Stephenson, local democracy reporter

Brynsworthy Environment Centre , headquarters of North Devon Council. (Image courtesy: North Devon Council)

Five candidates in the running

Five candidates have thrown their hat into the ring to represent Fremington on North Devon Council.

A vacancy arose following the death of popular Independent councillor Neil Denton in January.

A by-election will be held on Thursday, April 2 between the hours of 7am and 10pm.

Candidates are Jules Credgington for the Green Party, Susan Christine Kingdom representing the Conservative Party, Jayne Irene Mackie for the Liberal Democrats, Douglas James McLynn representing Labour and Derek Sargent of Reform UK.

The successful candidate will work alongside Liberal Democrat councillor for Fremington Frank Biederman.

North Devon’s Liberal Democrat run council is currently made up of 23 Liberal Democrats, seven Conservatives, seven Independents, three Green councillors and one Non-Aligned.

Cllr Denton had served on the council since 2023 and members described him as “a true gentleman” whose knowledge and expertise was invaluable.

They said the carpenter and former North Devon College lecturer, school governor and firefighter was a stalwart of his community and brought an open-mindedness and realism to so many thorny decisions during his time on the planning committee.
 

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