THE organisers of a campaign to change the way Mid Devon District Council is run say their petition has already gained a third of the signatures required to force a referendum.

The 'Campaign for Democracy' petition, organised by Cllrs Jenny Roach and Nikki Woollatt, is calling for a referendum to enable the cabinet system at the council to be disbanded and for the council to adopt a more democratic committee system instead.

Under the Localism Act, the electorate can force a referendum if 5% (2,976) of it signs the petition.

Since the Campaign for Democracy was launched just over two months ago they have already achieved their first milestone, plus some.

Cllr Jenny Roach said “The response so far has been amazing. So many people have supported the campaign, both by signing the petition and collecting signatures themselves.

“It is clear they value this opportunity to have their say.”

Cllr Nikki Woollatt added: “The first milestone we set ourselves was 500 signatures and we've doubled that.

“We're now a third of the way towards the total needed already and the petition's only been running a couple of months. We're absolutely thrilled.”

Cllrs Roach and Woollatt, with the support of Cllrs Pugsley, Wilson and Way are to raise a motion at the next meeting of the council, on December 17, to press for the approaching referendum to be held at the same time as the general and council elections in May 2015.

For the petition to achieve a referendum on that date it would need to be submitted by January 6, 2015 which despite the outstanding response is unlikely.