My name is David Smale and I am standing in the Barnstaple with Westacott by-election for North Devon District Council and the Fort Hill by-election for Barnstaple Town Council. Both by-elections have been called due to the resignation of the previous councillor.

I was born in Landkey and have spent the majority of my life here in North Devon. I’m running because I care deeply about our area and the people who live here.

Like many people, I’m concerned about the rising cost of living, the lack of affordable housing for young families, and the pressure on our local services – especially our hospital and GP services, dentistry, our schools, and support for vulnerable children and adults. These aren’t distant issues to me – they affect my family, friends, and neighbours every day.

I’m a husband, a father of two young children, a musician, and the manager of a local art gallery. I know how important it is to build a future where families feel supported and where culture and community can flourish. I want to help our area to become a thriving hub for creativity and opportunity – a place where everyone can afford to live, work, and belong.

I’m proud to be part of a strong Green team already working hard on the council – and together, we are already making a real difference. Whether it’s pushing for cleaner water in our seas and rivers, for more affordable and clean energy, standing up for public services, or putting people and planet first, I’ll be a strong and practical voice for real change.

Please vote for me on 31st July for a cleaners, greener and fairer future for all of us.

Voting in the by-elections


To take part in the Town Council by-elections to be held on 22nd May 2025, you will need to be registered to vote. To register, you will need to be:

  • 18 or older on the day of the election
  • Registered at an address in Devon
  • A British, Irish, or qualifying Commonwealth citizen living in the UK
  • Not legally excluded from voting

To register, follow this LINK. It should only take you a few minutes.

How to vote?

There are a number of ways to vote:

You can vote by post. To apply for a Postal Vote, follow this LINK.

You can apply for a Proxy Vote. Follow this LINK to apply.

You can vote in person on polling day, 31st July. To vote in person, you will need to have some ID. To find out what you will need to take with you, follow this LINK.

Where should I vote? To find your nearest polling station follow this LINK. Enter your address details then scroll down the page to “Democracy”.

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