NEW Dawlish councillor Pat Hackett says he ‘can’t wait to get started’.

Pat, who moved to Dawlish a few years ago, brings with him a distinguished political background as a former leader of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council, where he led a minority Labour administration, and also as a former Mayor of The Wirral.

He now takes the seat for Dawlish South West ward on Dawlish Town Council following the resignation of former councillor Huw Weatherhead.

The seat was uncontested and has now been declared by Teignbridge Council’s returning officer.

A former member of the Labour Party, Pat says since moving to Dawlish, he has joined the Liberal Democrats because they are ‘active’ in the town,.

He said the party is ‘visible in the community, and focused on practical local action, not just party politics’.

The 71-year-old moved to Dawlish with his wife to be near their son, daughter in law and their grand daughter.

He has more than 25 years’ experience of public service, both as a councillor and as a community activist, campaigning ‘to improve the lives and wellbeing of those in his area’.

Pat says his decision to join the Lib Dems ‘wasn’t taken lightly’ but he believes the Liberal Democrats are now the best vehicle to deliver real change locally, and to give Dawlish a ‘stronger voice’.

He says he cares passionately about the needs of others and has a record of getting things done.

Now living in Dawlish, he would like to build on this previous political record to help ‘bring about improvements and new facilities within the parish, to the benefit of our communities’.