The outgoing chairman of Teignbridge District Council, Dawlish resident John Petherick, has been commended for his year's work in the role by the newly-elected current chairman, Colin Parker.

Cllr Parker, the Liberal Democrat member for the Buckland and Milber ward, was elected chairman at the council's Annual Meeting on Friday, May 28.

He said he was 'honoured and privileged' to be taking up the role, and added: "I commend Councillor John Petherick on his year of chair and related duties – throughout a difficult year of the pandemic, he has coped in a very dignified manner.

"We are now in a much better position than we have been for a long time, but I must stress caution. It will be a while before we all feel at ease with the situation."

Cllr Petherick, who's also a member of Dawlish Town Council, said the past year could be described in three words: 'challenge', 'hardship' and 'crisis'.

He said: "This last year we have all adapted to new ways of working and lived our lives with stresses, lockdowns and virtual meetings. We have managed, but it will be a year we'll never forget."

He paid tribute to the 'commitment, professionalism and solidarity' of staff during the past year, and thanked Democratic Services Manager Sarah Selway and Chaplain Mark Jones for their support.

He also expressed his gratitude to everyone who had contributed to his chosen charity, Teignbridge Community Transport Association, and said the fundraising target had been 'exceeded beyond his wildest dreams'.

He was referring to an anonymous donation to the charity in March which – together with his own fundraising – has paid for a much-needed new wheelchair-adapted minibus. Read more about that here.

The district council's new chairman, Cllr Colin Parker, has spent much of his life in the financial services industry, but has retired to take up his new role.

The position of leader and deputy leader of Teignbridge District Council remain the same, with Cllr Alan Connett, and Cllr Alistair Dewhirst continuing in these respective roles.