Tributes have been paid to East Hampshire District Councillor John West, who died last week.
The Petersfield resident was a familiar figure in the town and a long-standing and respected member of both EHDC and Hampshire County Council.
He died, following a long illness, on New Year’s Day, aged 73.
Cllr Ferris Cowper, EHDC Leader, said: “John West was a fine councillor and served the people of East Hampshire with commitment and dedication. He was a true gentleman and charmed everyone who came into contact with him. Typically, he bore his illness with humour and courage. East Hampshire is a poorer place without his wisdom, insight and his ready smile. All of us send our very deepest sympathies to his family.”
As a chartered civil engineer John worked on highways consultations in new housing developments for both Hampshire County Council and East Hampshire District Council.
After he retired he turned to politics and was elected to the District Council in May 2007, serving the Bell Hill Ward in Petersfield as a Conservative. He was also a long-serving member of Hampshire County Council serving the Clanfield Ward.
During his time at Penns Place he was Vice Chairman of the Petersfield Community Forum and served on a string of other committees and panels including Planning, Licensing, Overview and Scrutiny, and the East Hampshire Road Safety Council.
He also worked on the Project Integra Policy Review & Scrutiny Committee for five years and with the Petersfield CAB, between 2008 and 2010.
Cllr Tony Muldoon, Leader of the EHDC Liberal Democrats, said: “He was a very nice man and was always very approachable. As a councillor he always had the interests of his constituents at heart and his passing will be a sad loss to the council.”
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