THE Greens have claimed victory in the by-election battle for a seat on Totnes Town Council again.

But this time they plan to keep it.

Earlier this year Green candidate Richard Fairfax won the same seat, but then mysteriously threw it all away by withdrawing at the last minute, forcing the town to stage a new election.

This time around the honours went to Green candidate Anna Lunk in a three-cornered fight involving Liberal Democrat Robert Vint and Independent Les Hills.

Ms Lunk easily took the seat with a majority of almost 200 in a disappointing turnout which saw just 22 per cent of the town ward electorate bother to vote.

Her victory brings the number of Green Party town councillors to three out of a total council membership of 16 councillors.

After her victory Ms Lunk, an adult education tutor from Dartington, said her 'passion' was for sustainable affordable housing, but that another major issue in the town was the High Street traffic.

"I would like to see the High Street issues resolved in consultation with all users — traders, residents and shoppers," she said.

"I should imagine all want to see real pedestrian priority, which isn't the same as pedestrianisation."

Mr Fairfax pulled out of the last election after intimating there had been some sort of rift in the Green Party involving himself and Green county councillor for Totnes, Paula Black.

Mrs Lunk came out ahead with almost twice as many votes as her nearest rival Liberal Democrat Robert Vint, who already holds a district council seat representing Totnes.

In third place was semi-retired builder Mr Hills.

The result finally fills the town council seat left vacant by long-serving councillor Ian Slatter, who died suddenly at his Totnes home on Remembrance Sunday last year.

Result: Les Hill (Ind) 136, Anna Lunk (Green) 442, Robert Vint (Lib Dem) 245.