IT'S a blend of old and new on Teignmouth town council after it bucked district-wide trends in attracting fresh blood in last week's elections. New mayor Cllr David Weekes welcomed the new faces at Tuesday's annual council meeting. 'We have entered a new era on this town council and welcome members with more teeth, hair and slimmer waist lines. 'To those councillors who have been fortunate to be re-elected, it is great to see you with us,' he said. He also said goodbye to well-known face Mary Strudwick, who stood down after a long career in local government. Six new members join six old hands after 28 candidates vied for 12 seats representing its central, east and west parishes. It means the council is made up of six Lib Dems, four Conservatives and two Independents. It is almost an all-male line-up with just one female member, long-serving councillor Sylvia Russell. Labour and Teignmouth Alliance of Independents candidates failed to win seats. In central parish, former mayor Geoff Bladon, Conservative, retains his seat and is joined by political partner James McMurray and Lib Dems Terry Falcao and Ian Parkes. Out is long-serving councillor Roy Phillips, Independent, and former town councillor and Teignmouth Alliance of Independents' candidate, Brenda Battershill. In the east parish, Independent Vince Fusco, Conservative Sylvia Russell and former deputy mayor David Weekes regained seats and are joined by Lib Dem Donald Baldey. Cllr Geoff Bladon's son, Martin Bladon, won a seat under the Conservative banner in Teignmouth West. He is joined by young newcomer Lib Dem Alex Cross and returning councillors, Lib Dem David Cox and Independent Fred Tooley. Teignmouth Alliance of Independents member Chris Whitlock and co-opted Labour candidate Mary Kennedy are out. Cllr Weekes was elected mayor after a proposal from Cllr Fusco and seconded by Cllr Russell. His deputy is Cllr Tooley, proposed by Cllr Cox and seconded by Cllr Cross. The new finance and general purposes chairman is Cllr Cox and vice-chairman is Cllr Baldey. Make-up of other committees will be decided at a future date.
