A NEW face will be joining Wellington town councillors on Monday night’s meeting after a by election victory.

Wayne Battishill took the top spot in the Wellington East ward by election that was held on Thursday (July 26).

The Conservative candidate won the vote after Lib Dem councillor Peter Critchard resigned his seat in June. 

Mr Battishill won the election with 236 votes, following by Nancy Powell-Brace (LibDem) with 189 votes, Nicholas Smith (Ind) with 62 votes and Desmond Pollard (Lab) with 53 votes. 

Turnout was 20.22 per cent. 

The 41-year-old man, who has lived in Wellington for nearly four years with wife Richenda and their 4-year-old son, plans to champion issues involving better bus routes, tackling growing anti-social behaviour, and working with Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow and other councillors to bring a railway station back to the town.

“It feels really good to have won,” he said.

“I’ve been in a bit of a daze since.

“I’m so pleased the people have chosen me to represent them. It’s going to be a challenge but hopefully there’s a long road ahead."

Mr Battishill, who works in A&E at an Exeter Hospital, says he and his family wanted to relocate from the city to get a more 'country' feel for life, and believes he has found a new place to call home in Wellington.

He said: "It's such a fantastic place to live, and a great place for my son to grow up."

The new councillor, who enjoys walking with his dog and going camping, also spent three years as a combat medic in the army reservists.