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Oxfordshire councillor pretended to be woman who doesn't exist

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Tuesday, 2 May, 2023
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Oxfordshire councillor pretended to be woman who doesn't exist

A councillor running for election in this week’s local elections previously hid behind the identity of a woman who did not exist to express his concerns about the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions.

Liberal Democrat candidate David Melvin, who is running to be West Oxfordshire District Council’s councillor for the Carterton North East Ward, previously was a member of Carterton Town Council but was forced to resign in June 2020 after he sent an email to Carterton’s mayor using a false identity.

Mr Melvin wrote an email to Conservative councillor Michele Mead, Carterton’s mayor at the time, to express his objections to the town council’s decision to relax Covid-19 restrictions at the town market.

However, instead of sending the email to Ms Mead and councillor James Mills using his own email address, Mr Melvin chose to use the false identity of Julie Burden, who does not exist.

Ms Mead has told the Oxford Mail that Mr Melvin’s willingness to hide behind a false identity showed he was “not fit” to be running for public office again.

At the time of the incident, Mr Melvin chose to resign after he was caught out by the council for creating an email address under the name of Julie Burden.

Mr Melvin wrote to Ms Mead in an email on June 5 which said: “I confirm that I am resigning as a town councillor with immediate effect.

“I will wipe and return the council iPad next week.”

Carterton’s town clerk at the time, Ron Spurs, said: “What Mr Melvin did was a breach of the standards you would expect of someone in public office.

“He admitted what he had done when confronted and accepted his behaviour was inappropriate.”

 

 

Image: Oxford Mail 

Carterton Residents' Survey

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1. We are trying to improve facilities for the town by building a new sports pavilion. How important do you think this type of facility is?
Not important
Very important
2. Speeding affects many areas of Carterton. Does speeding affect you?
Not at all
Yes, very much
3. How important do you think it is to keep FREE parking in West Oxfordshire?
Not important
Very important
4. Are you aware of provisions for young people in the town? Such as Youth Clubs and the Family Centre?
Not aware
I am aware
5. How well do you think Carterton Town Council does in arranging community events like the celebrations for the Jubilee and the Christmas light switch on?
Not well
Extremely well
6. How important do you think it is to continue to build more houses in Carterton?
Not important
Very important
7. We are campaigning to stop Thames Water dumping sewage into our rivers. How important do you think this is?
Not important
Very important
8. What do you think of the leisure services provided by West Oxfordshire District Council in Carterton?
Poor
Excellent

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