11th May 2011

LYME REGIS: Town votes for change

Six new councillors elected - four voted out

by Philip Evans

LYME Regis has voted emphatically for change with six new town councillors being elected and four kicked out.

In what some senior councillors described as the “most dirty and underhand election” for years, the new faces on the town council among the 14 successful candidates will be George Symonds, Anita Williams, Rikey Austin, Terry O’Grady, Mark Gage and Chris Clipson.

Casualties included long-serving twins, Stan and Pete Williams, who between them have given over 60 years of service, former mayor and tourism chairman Ken Whetlor, a councillor for over 20 years, and Ken Hitchcock.

Newcomers Duncan Lay and Stuart Carver did not win a seat.

The Lyme count at the district council offices in Dorchester was delayed after it was discovered the names of candidates on the ballot paper was different to those on the counting sheet.

Rikey Austin was named on the ballot paper but was referred to as Tracey Howe, her married name, on the counting sheet, which had to be changed before the count could begin.

Popular Lucy Campbell, the council’s youngest member, topped the poll with 827 votes, followed by the mayor, Michaela Ellis (806), and Daryl Turner (796). Ken Whetlor missed being elected by just three votes.

Results: Barbara Austin 705 (elected), Rikey Austin 682 (elected), Ann Bradbury 490 (elected), Lucy Campbell 827 (elected), Stuart Carver 423, Chris Clipson 487 (elected), Michaela Ellis 806 (elected), Mark Gage 554 (elected), Kenneth Hitchcock 401, Sally Holman 699 (elected), Lorna Jenkin 722 (elected), Duncan Lay 414, Owen Lovell 689 (elected), Terry O’Grady 652 (elected), George Symonds 737 (elected), Daryl Turner 796 (elected), Kenneth Whetlor 484, Anita Williams 523 (elected), Peter Williams 398, Stanley Williams 457.

There were 26 spoilt ballot papers.

PICTURE: OUT (from left to right) - Stan Williams, Pete Williams, Ken Whetlor and Ken Hitchcock