A NEWLY elected independent town councillor has pledged to end ‘party politics’ after winning a by-election.

Nick Skeens, 58, emerged victorious at a by-election for Burnham North Ward in on Thursday for Burnham Town Council, receiving 450 votes.

Mr Skeens has previously worked as a reporter, producer, news editor and writer. He has served as chairman for Friends of Riverside Park, led Burnham’s music festival and helped set up the town’s 24 hour radio station.

His key pledges include protecting the town’s allotments, campaigning for more police and youth services, enhancing the waterfront and opposing insensitive housing developments.

He told the Standard: “I’m feeling absolutely fantastic after the results. The support for independent candidate such as myself and Mr Davey shows that people in Burnham are moving against party politics

“Too many local councillors will vote in favour or against something purely because other party members are doing so. This should not exist at a local level.

“I hope to be able to bring people together, have open and critical discussions and not wait around for project funding from the district council which will never come, but rally people together to find ways to raise the money needed to help Burnham.

“The first few months I will be learning the ropes and not taking on anything too quickly, but I will focus on our allotments and the threats posed to them. I don’t understand why there is even a threat – they should be treasured.

“The protection of the waterfront is also important to me – no one wants to see it taken over insensitive developments or its heritage taken away.”

“I love Burnham, it’s full of great characters and I want to make it an even better place to live than it already is.”

914 votes were cast in Thursday’s by-election. Four ballots were rejected, Sarah Harvey of the Conservative party received 190, Wayne Davey, independent, received 270, and Nick Skeens, also independent, received 450. The turnout was 30.02 per cent.