ONE of the longest serving councillors in the country has been honoured by being admitted as a Freeman of the Borough of Taunton Deane.

Cllr Cliff Bishop, aged 90, joins fellow councillor John Meikle in being awarded the rare honour – between them they have racked up an incredible 106 years in local government.

Mr Bishop, who represents the Bradford-on-Tone ward, was educated at Oake County School and the former Huish’s Grammar School, in Taunton.

He began his long service in local government 50 years ago, when he was elected to Oake Parish Council and Wellington Rural District Council.

When local government was reorganised in 1973-74 he was voted onto Taunton Deane Council.

Mr Bishop has always taken a keen interest in planning from since his time on the rural district council and chaired the Taunton Deane’s planning committee from 1974 to 1991 and 2010 to 12. He was also executive councillor for planning policy and transportation for four years.

He still sits on the planning committee as well as corporate scrutiny, the Project Taunton Steering Group and Local Development Framework Steering Group.

In 1994 he was elected to represent the South-West on the national executive committee of the National Housing and Town Planning Council and continued to serve when the organisation merged with the Royal Town Planning Institute.

The Freedom was awarded at a special meeting of Taunton Deane on Tuesday, when it was proposed by Mr Meikle and seconded by Cllr Mark Edwards, who succeeded Mr Bishop in his executive role.

Mr Bishop, who attended the ceremony with his wife Bettie, said: “I am deeply honoured by being admitted as a Freeman of Taunton. I would like to thank everyone sincerely – I am overwhelmed.”

Mr Edwards, who is deputy leader of the council, said: “Cllr Bishop has been more than a fellow councillor to me - more of a mentor. His understanding of planning and planning policy has been invaluable.

“I was delighted to second this proposal and I want to congratulate him on being awarded this honour by the council - it’s well deserved and, on a personal note, I would like to thank him for his support and advice - it has been and will continue to be invaluable.”