DEVON'S ONLY GREEN COUNTY COUNCILLOR JOINS THE LIB DEMS

DEVON'S ONLY GREEN COUNTY COUNCILLOR JOINS THE LIB DEMS

Robert Vint, Devon's only Green county councillor, has joined the Liberal Democrats.

Cllr Vint, who represents the Totnes area on Devon County Council, said he had left the Greens to join the Liberal Democrats because he shared their aims and aspirations for the future of Totnes, South Hams and Devon.

South Hams Liberal Democrat chairman Keith Smith welcomed the move of Cllr Vint -- a decision which has been endorsed by the Executive of the local party.

Mr Smith said: "Robert is a hard working local councillor who we are very happy to welcome into the Liberal Democrats, where we continue to challenge the Conservatives at South Hams and Devon County Council. I am pleased that we will have an additional councillor at district and county level representing our community."

Cllr Vint said: ""I look forward to working with the Liberal Democrat councilors. I have been elected on several occasions on a broad manifesto of commitments to local democracy, social justice and environmental issues. I am delighted that my ongoing work and these electoral commitments have the full support of the local Liberal Democrats and so will continue unchanged. I will continue to serve the town exactly as before and I'm delighted to be part of a united and effective party that will work closely with me to achieve these goals."

At County Hall, news of Cllr Vint's move to the Liberal Democrats was welcomed by the party's leader in Devon, Cllr Alan Connett.

"Robert is passionate about the environment and concerned about the cuts being imposed by both the Conservative government and the Conservative county council. We have been challenging the effects on local people and their families and Robert shares our concerns about the impact the cuts are having on families and communities across Devon," said Cllr Connett.