THE three newly elected Launceston town councillors were welcomed to their first meeting by the mayor last week.

Liberal Democrats Paula Bullen and Kirk Denton and Conservative Val Bugden-Cawsey were elected as town councillors for the Central ward. Their election brings the council to its full strength of 16 members.

Mayor Cllr Brian Hogan said he looked forward to working with them and to their input.

Cllr Bullen, of Dutson Road, told councillors she has lived in Launceston for around 18 months: “I’m not local to Launceston but I’m Cornish! I work in one of the schools in Bodmin and I have worked there for 15 years.

“I live with my partner and two weeks ago I became a grandmother.”

Cllr Bugden-Cawsey, who lives at St Cuthbert Close, said she was ‘delighted to be elected’: “I will work very hard for the town council and people of the town. I am a retired professional caterer and currently work as a professional speaker all over Cornwall and Devon.

“I will always put the town and needs of the people who live here before my political party.”

Cllr Denton, landlord of the Westgate Inn, lived in Launceston when he was younger and went to Launceston College. He moved away to the Isles of Scilly where he worked his way up from chef to a manager of a hotel.

He said: “We decided to start a family and moved back and took over the Westgate Inn.

“I am chair of Launceston Pub Watch. We try to ensure pubs and the town have less alcohol-related problems.”

The other members of the town council introduced themselves, and Cllr Rob Tremain said it was ‘nice to see’ a 25% female membership on the council.

Cllr Hogan also extended a welcome and congratulations to the new Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Launceston Central ,Gemma Massey, who was also present at the town council meeting.

The Launceston Central Division seat fell vacant last October with the resignation of Alex Folkes, who had won it as a Liberal Democrat in 2013.

The town council vacancies arose due to the resignation of Alex Folkes, the death of Graham Facks-Martin and the resignation of Ashley Crapp.