MAKE sure you vote on Thursday, in the local elections.

Who will get your vote in the Teign Valley Ward of Teignbridge Council, where two candidates will be your next councillors?

Here's some information on each of the candidates:

BUDGETS given to local authorities by Conservative governments have been cut by £18.6bn between 2009/10 and 2019/20 – that’s a shocking 63% reduction in real terms according to the Institute for Government.

In 2019, Labour finished second to the Tories in Central Devon in the general election, with the Lib Dems more than 5,000 votes further behind.

Send a message to this hopeless government that it’s time for change by voting Labour on May 4th.

I live in Trusham and have a wealth of experience from eight years as a Councillor in London Borough of Southwark, three of which were as Leader of Southwark Council.

I know well how to get things done.

STEPHEN has lived in the Teign Valley for 45 years, initially in and around Dunsford before settling in Bridford, where he is Vice-Chair of the Parish Council. 

A local sheep farmer, he understands the challenges facing the agriculture industry and wider rural economy. 

He has 12 years’ experience at Teignbridge, representing the old Teign Valley ward from 2007 to 2015 and the new ward (which also includes Tedburn St Mary, Pathfinder Village and Hennock) since 2019. 

He helped to persuade Teignbridge to sell the land for a successful affordable housing scheme in Christow for just £1, which was vital in making the project financially viable. He also ensured there was no timetable reduction when Stagecoach took over the Teign Valley bus service.

I love working with the community to make things better. Big changes are hard, but small victories add up and lead to more. 

Decades of Conservative austerity have devastated Teignbridge funding, cutting many millions per year that used to supplement our council tax. We have maintained statutory services, but inflation is 10% and council tax is capped at 5%. Like many councils Teignbridge faces a shortfall and we desperately need a change of government.

Covid and other things have been disruptive, People do not like disruption if it affects bin collections, or other services. Teignbridge fared well through covid, and we still progressed our ambitious decarbonisation project for council offices and the leisure centres. Investment that makes it easier now, to keep them open in the energy crisis.

I want to keep improving planning. 

Parish and Town councils can now call-in applications to be decided in public by committee. Our scrutiny group has made recommendations on enforcement that are being implemented but there is much more to do.

I am proud to be part of our Liberal Democrat team, helping to make things better, not disrupt them.

Terry lives in Tedburn St Mary where he served as a school governor and parish councillor and led the installation and design of Millennium Orchard play park. 

He served in the Royal Navy and still volunteers as a Training Officer. Terry was elected to represent Teign Valley Ward in 2019 and has taken action on many local issues, for example launching a petition against proposals by the St Thomas Medical Group in Exeter to permanently close Pathfinder GP Surgery. He has supported many community organisations and groups, including Tedburn St Mary Toddler Group, the Teign Valley Larder and Tedburn and Cheriton Scouts. 

Terry organised for an EV charge point to be installed in Tedburn St Mary to encourage greener travel.

I have served 34 years in The Devon and CornwallConstabulary. Served in Newton Abbot and Teignmouth and for many years at Chudleigh CID.

Covering a large area which included the whole of TheTeignvalley and its many villages. 

After leaving the Police I worked six years in mental health. 

I am currently a Police Support Volunteer and am the Co Ordinator of The Chudleigh and Ashburton Police Section Neighbourhood Watch Online Scheme which again covers The Teign Valley. I have served on Chudleigh Town Council for nearly 20 years. I had the honour of being Chairman of the Council twice and Mayor. 

My focus will be housing and getting the right houses in the right areas. 

I’m passionate about the environment and green issue.