THE Leader of Taunton Deane Borough Council has paid tribute to Cliff Bishop, a former councillor with links to Wellington and Oake, who died over the weekend.

Mr Bishop was elected to the council in 1973 and stepped down in May this year at the grand age of 91.

He was awarded the Freedom of The Borough in recognition of over 40 years’ service on the council where he sat on many committees which have helped shape future growth in the Deane.

In the early years he was a member of the accommodation sub-committee formed to consider the building of The Deane House. In later years he had been executive councillor for planning policy and transportation, and chairman of the planning committee.

Council Leader Cllr John Williams said: “Cliff was universally respected by all and his passing will be a huge loss to his family and the community that he loved to serve. His contribution towards housing and planning were immense right across the Borough and he was respected and his opinions sought nationally for his encyclopaedic knowledge of planning issues.

“His contribution to public life has been immense with over 50 years of public service, first in Wellington Rural District Council and from 1973 to this year on Taunton Deane Borough Council. I am pleased to say this tremendous service to the community was recognised last year when Cliff was made a “Freeman of the Borough” something I know he was particularly proud to receive.

“He will be a great loss as a he was a wonderful person and respected for his wise counsel. He will be sadly missed by his family and all of us.”

Mr Bishop was born near Kingston St Mary and educated locally at Oake County School and Huish’s Grammar School, Taunton. He worked at the Department of Health and Social Security until his retirement in 1984.

Mr Bishop remained a member of Oake Parish Council, which he joined in 1964.

During his lifetime he had also been a member of Wellington Rural District Council, the Somerset County Council Chairpersons’ Panel for Education Appeals, the Somerset Association of District Councils, the National Housing and Town Planning Council, Taunton Citizen Advice Bureau, the Somerset Association of Local Councils and the Postal and Telecommunications Advisory Committee.