Lib Dems select Teresa Tinsley for Bideford North by-election

Bideford Liberal Democrats have selected local campaigner Teresa Tinsley to stand in the Torridge District Council by-election which takes place on 2 May.

Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, leader of the eight-strong Lib Dem group on Torridge Council, said: ‘Teresa is a fantastic choice for Bideford because she cares so deeply about the town and has such a long connection with the area. She has already been supporting Torridge on the Active Travel group and was instrumental with others in getting Bideford designated as a heritage harbour.’

Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Phil Hutty added:
‘When I asked Teresa what issues made her want to stand, she said her priorities were “sewage, public services, and regeneration of the town centre”. Like so many of us, she is appalled at the damage this  Tory government has caused to the NHS, to the environment, and to democracy itself with cuts to local authority budgets. I know she will fight for a fairer deal for Torridge and speak up in planning for residents’
access to GPs, dentists, green spaces, school places, and parking.’

Teresa Tinsley was brought up in Newton Tracey and went to school in Bideford. She worked at the Spanish Embassy and was director of a national organisation championing language teaching before returning to live in Bideford eight years ago. A historian and published author, Dr Tinsley hopes to follow in the footsteps of the late Peter Christie, whose sad death sparked the by-election.