The people of Westbury have elected two new town councillors, Stephen Miles and Derry O’Hara.
The elections for the Westbury Ham Ward took place on Thursday 22nd April. Three candidates stood to fill the two vacancies on the town council, and Stephen Miles and Derry O’Hara were elected with 624 and 810 votes respectively.
Stephen Miles moved to Westbury 10 months ago and stood as an independent councillor. He is a retired musician, and is involved with the choral society and the Westbury Music and Arts Festival. Stephen said, “We as councillors must make ourselves available at all times to the people of Westbury. This is how I see myself as a councillor. The needs of people are paramount and we must carry out our role as councillors in a way that benefits everyone and assists them with problems they are experiencing with which a councillor can be of help. I am hoping to be able, with the other town councillors, to raise the profile of Westbury in relation to other towns around us and in Wiltshire as a whole.”
Derry O’Hara runs The Angel pub with her husband John, and stood as an independent councillor. She is a member of the Church Street Residents’ Association and has joined the campaign to save Westbury Swimming Pool. Derry said, “I’m extremely pleased and encouraged, and I’d personally like to thank everyone who voted for me. I will do my best and I’ll stick to my word and be easily contactable.”
Both of the new councillors have written to the White Horse News to thank voters for their support.
1292 ballot papers were issued in the by-election, a turnout of 20.8%. The vacancies on the council arose after longstanding councillors Charlie Finbow and Derek Hulin resigned earlier this year.
