A FIFTH Wellington town councillor has resigned in just nine months meaning the council has lost one-third of its 15 members since the elections of 2022.

Labour Cllr Kieran Canham, who represented the town’s north ward, stepped down last week just as the council co-opted former nurse Sue Fox to fill an earlier vacancy.

Cllr Canham, who works in Court Fields School, Wellington, said his personal and work commitments meant he could not give enough of his time to the role of councillor.

His resignation means the council has declared a ‘casual vacancy’ which is being advertised to see if residents want to call a by-election.

An election will be held if 10 or more electors from the ward write to Somerset Council’s returning officer by July 26.

If that does not happen, the council will advertise for any residents who want to stand for co-option at its September 2 meeting.