Opinion: Jenny Brown on why she should be elected to Honiton Town Council in this month's election

My name is Jenny Brown and I am standing in the forthcoming election for Honiton Town Council (St Michael's Ward).

I live in St Michael's ward and love the fact that I can easily walk into town when not gardening or decorating- both hobbies that have gained prominence in my life since Covid struck.

Prior to this I was a hotelier - my husband and I ran The Monkton Court Hotel from January 2008 until we finally ended the business, having been closed due to Covid, in January 2021.

I understand the struggle that businesses have had and indeed are continuing to have.

My husband and I moved to East Devon from our restaurant in Essex in September 1993 in order to take on The Cedars Hotel in Axminster.

After selling this hotel we changed direction and had great fun renovating houses and building bungalows until we realised we missed the interaction with people that we got from the hospitality industry and bought The Monkton Court Hotel.

I also have a great interest in antiques, especially 18th century porcelain, and we ran antique centres for a period.

This love of antiques and interaction with the public, led me to become the regional representative for The Historic Houses Association for Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, organising tours and events.

From 2016-2019 I was the lead Councillor for Tourism for East Devon District Council. This was a role that gave me a great sense of achievement as I could promote the town in which I live.

I worked with South Western Railway to adopt our part of the railway that runs between Axminster and Pinhoe, naming it 'The East Devon Line'.

This was all done with a view to achieve greater footfall within our community and therefore support local business. The project also included the brightening up of stations displaying photographs within the shelters that were taken by a local Honiton man, Gary Hoplin.

Attractive planters were also installed by working in partnership with other town councillors and local volunteers - like minded community members who take pride in their town and its amenities. This group, now named 'The Friends of Honiton Station', has grown both in strength and reputation.

I wish to now build on past successes and, as a town councillor, represent my hometown.

I want to celebrate the strengths of Honiton, to seize opportunities, to create and nurture revenue-generating services.

______________________________________________________________________ The other candidates who are standing for election in St Michael's Ward are Andrew Pearsall, Robert Fowles, Cathy Maunder, Lisa Beigan and John Taylor. The election will be held on Thursday March 10 between 7am and 10pm. The polling stations are Honiton Library on New Street and The Heathfield Inn on Walnut Road. There will be no election for St. Paul's Ward because there were only three applications for four available positions. Applications were received from Joseph Furneaux-Gotch, Debra Hulin and Caroline Kolek.