MINEHEAD ratepayers could face a £2,000 bill for a town council by-election which was this week condemned as “ridiculous” and “totally unnecessary”.

The by-election in the Minehead North ward, to be held on February 22, results from the resignation last November of Mark Kingston-James after serving only six months as a Conservative councillor.

He had been co-opted on to the council but is now standing for the same seat as an Independent, claiming that it will give voters “a chance to make a proper choice rather than have a co-opted member thrust upon them”.

He added: “I’m standing for the town, not for politics.”

Other candidates are Ralph Dinnick (Conservative) and Kathrine See (Labour).

This week, other town councillors reacted angrily to Mr Kingston-James’ decision to stand down and cause a by-election and then stand for the vacancy.

“The voters deserve to know that he is the person who has created this vacancy and is causing us to use funds which could be much more usefully spent,” said Conservative Cllr Les Smith.

“What a waste of time, energy - and the town’s money.”

Mr Kingston-James was co-opted onto the town council last May and resigned after Hedley Price Funeral Directors, of which he is manager, was involved in a dispute with the council.

Minehead Mayor Cllr Jean Parbrook condemned Mr Kingston-James’s action in causing a by-election as “ridiculous and totally unnecessary”.

“He could easily have crossed the floor and become an Independent member. Now the town’s ratepayers could be footing a bill which could be as much as £2,000 for a by-election nobody wanted.

“For instance, polling cards will cost at least £500, and there’s the hire of buildings and officers’ time."

Mr Kingston-James told the Free Press that he was standing as an Independent because he felt the council had become too political and the important thing was to concentrate on the wellbeing of the town and its residents.

“I also felt it was important to give people a chance to vote for me. I was previously co-opted as a councillor, as were most of the council’s members, but this time there will be proper democratic process.

“If I am elected, it will be the people’s choice, and as an Independent I will be free of political pressure and hopefully will be able to do a better job for Minehead.”

* As well as the Minehead Town Council by-election, there will also be a West Somerset Council by-election for a vacancy in the Minehead South ward on the same day.

It follows the resignation of UKIP member Tom Hall last month.

Candidates are Benet Allen (Liberal Democrat), Gary Miele (Conservative) and Maureen Smith (Labour).