Newport election cancelled over lack of interest

A planned election to fill 12 seats on a Shropshire town council has been cancelled after just seven candidates put their names forward.

Newport Town Council will not be holding an election on May 5.

All seven people who threw their names into the ring will now automatically become councillors.

Town mayor, Councillor Roy Scammell, said an open day was held to entice residents to sign up but just one person came to the event.

The lack of an election could now save the town council about £5,500.

Lee Jakeman, clerk at Newport Town Council, said: "When the council meets on May 9 for its next meeting it will have a few options to work with. They could choose to co-opt members, or run a new election, or carry on working with seven members."

Legally the town council can operate with four councillors.

The candidates are Peter Scott (Ind); Tony Forrester (Ind); Phil Norton (Lab); Roy Scammell (Con); Adrian Meredith (Con); Tim Nelson (Con) and Rodney Pitt (Con). Mr Pitt would be the only new face at the table.