They won by 19 votes
A Reform UK candidate has brought Tiverton its first splash of light blue after winning a by-election.
Goff Welchman stood for the party in the contest for a seat in the Cranmore ward on Tiverton Town Council.
Cllr Welchman secured 505 votes, narrowly ahead of the 486 bagged by Liberal Democrat contender Claudette Harrower, who sits on Mid Devon District Council.,
The Conservatives, with Luis Richard Alan James Gordon, came third in the four-horse race with 148 votes and Local Independents for Tiverton, with Ana Luisa Hendy, received 107.
The count was conducted by Mid Devon District Council, with the results confirmed by its chief executive, Stephen Walford.
Mr Welchman could not be contacted for comment on his win, however, he becomes the first Reform member of Tiverton Town Council.
In a post on the Tiverton Notice Board Facebook page, he said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents of Tiverton’s Cranmore ward, who yesterday voted me onto the Town Council.
“I would also like to say to all the ward residents, whichever way you voted, that I shall continue to represent all your interests in keeping our area a safe and pleasant place to live, and in particular, I’ll defend our unique assets of the Grand Western Canal and Tidcombe Fen SSSI, as I’ve already been doing during my 42 years of living in the ward.
“Once I’ve been formally registered as a town councillor, my first priority will be to raise awareness of a new threat to our beautiful canal, in the form of a ridiculous proposal to build 89 houses along the south bank, ruining the Country Park, and causing yet more traffic chaos in the Tidcombe area.
“These land speculators must not be allowed to profit from the destruction of our green belt and heritage assets.”
Mr Welchman is a regular attendee to district council meetings, speaking during public speaking sections of various gatherings, notably planning.
Most of Tiverton Town Council’s members do not list a political affiliation, but six are Liberal Democrat, two are Conservative, one represents Local Independents for Tiverton and now Cllr Welchman is the Reform member.
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