FORMER councillor Richard Stigwood has returned to Calne Town Council after successfully being co-opted on Monday.

Mr Stigwood and Alastair Muir beat off competition from two other potential candidates, Jonathan Fisher and Daniel McAuley, to become councillors for Chilvester and Abberd and Calne North wards respectively.

The two men, who both had five minutes to speak on why they wished to become councillors, replace former councillors Martin Stebbing and David Short who both resigned earlier this year.

Mr Stigwood, 64, is married with one son and is semi-retired. He has lived and worked in Calne for 30 years and was previously a councillor for Calne for seven years.

Standing as a Conservative, he said: “When it comes to matters of the town council I think it’s the people of the town that matter more than any political party.

“A lot of people say they are concerned about parking especially on Station Road, near the fire station and people talk about the little bit of anti-social behaviour which needs to be addressed.”

Mr Muir has lived in Compton Bassett since 1991 and has been a member of the Calne Rotary Club for the past 12 years.

He said: “A key part of Rotary is understanding what is going on and understanding the needs of the community.

“I will always fight for transparency especially in a council which is spending other people’s money. People need to know where their money goes and that’s why I don’t believe anything should be hidden.”

Both councillors took part in Monday’s full council meeting following their co-option.