ILMINSTER Town Council has a rather different make-up following last week’s elections.

A number of candidates who stood under the Voice For Ilminster banner have been elected to the council, while existing town councillors Carol Goodall, Val Keitch and Roger Swann received the strongest support.

Ilminster is different to Chard in the way that councillors are elected, with no wards meaning residents were able to vote for any of the 20 candidates to serve the town.

Deputy Mayor Andrew Lawson fell just short of the threshold to be re-elected, while Vernon Higgins and John Pallister were also unsuccessful in their bids for re-election.

Almost half of Chard’s Town Council has been refreshed, with a number of new faces joining some popular council stalwarts.

There were elections in just two wards in Chard, while councillors in the remaining wards were appointed unopposed.

In the Avishayes ward, Garry Shortland was elected with 23% of the vote, along with Cathie Morrison and David O’Brien. Dave Bulmer achieved 35% of the vote in the Jocelyn ward, and has been joined on the council by Sara Dowell and Irene Glynn.

Last week The News could not make contact with Irene Glynn to supply an election entry, rather than Cllr Glynn not being able to provide one, we are happy to make this clarification.

Elected: Votes, % Chard Town (Jocelyn Ward): Dave Bulmer, 823, 35%; Sara Gillian Dowell, 398, 17%; Irene Glynn, 394, 17%; Not elected: Paul Dobbs, 368, 16%; Dave Orchard, 342, 15%.

Chard Town (Avishayes Ward): Garry Frederick Shortland, 531, 23%; Cath Morrison, 429, 19%; David Anthony O’Brien, 388, 17%; Not elected: Peter George Amey, 369, 16%; Tricia O’Brien, 369, 16%; Graham Forsyth, 223, 10%.

Ilminster: Carol Ann Goodall, 1329, 7%; Val Keitch, 1310, 7%; Roger Swann, 1232, 7%; Stuart Richard Shepherd, 1176, 6%; Rob Drayton, 1117, 6%; Rose Neave, 1098 6%; Sophie Louise Storey, 949, 5%; Julie Marguerite Fowler, 915, 5%; Don Kinder, 863, 5%; Tony Walker, 858, 5%; Andrew John Shearman, 847, 5%; Fred Albin, 813, 4%; John Andrew Fagan, 779, 4%; Philip Andrew Burton, 772, 4%; Jo Sothern, 734, 4%.

Ilminster candidates not elected: Andrew Graham Lawson, 716, 4%; John Pallister, 712, 4%; Drew Belobaba, 696, 4%; Sally-Anne Walmsley, 694, 4%; Alexander Higgins Vernon, 615, 3%.