Lisa Eves is elected as new parish councillor for Manea following a by-election called as a result of resignation of Dr Richard Hirson
A row over the management of Manea pit lead to village by-election. - Credit: Archant
Manea has a new parish councillor following a by-election held yesterday (Thursday).
Just under a third of voters went to the poll to choose a replacement for Dr Richard Hirson, who resigned following a row over Manea Pit Committee.
Lisa Eves, from Charlemont Drive, won the seat beating the other two candidates: Scott Payne of Westfield Road and Jan Coupland of Station Road.
Mrs Eves, who has been outspoken against the implementation of an otter fence around the village pit, polled 305 votes, Mr Payne was second with 235 and Mrs Coupland third with just 72 votes.
In total 31.63 per cent of the village electorate voted and there were no spoilt papers.
Dr Hirson swept to victory in a by-election in February last year polling a massive 469 votes leaving Mr Payne as runner-up with 168 votes.
The former village GP resigned in April blaming his decision on a move by the parish council to abolish the Manea Pit Committee - of which he was chairman - at a council meeting on March 20 when Dr Hirson was away and without any warning.
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He claimed he was not notified before the decision was taken.
He said at the time: “I was on holiday, and when I returned I was told the committee had been disbanded. There was no warning that the council chairman was thinking about getting rid of the committee,” said Dr Hirson.
He believes the move was to stop ongoing opposition to the council’s decision to install an otter fence around the pit.
But council chairman Councillor Steve Emery denied the decision was anything to do with the otter fence, but was to do with concerns about the way the committee was being run.
