WEST Oxfordshire District Council Chairman Norman Macrae has paid tribute to the four district councillors who are retiring at the May 7 election.

Mark Booty, who represented Bampton and Clanfield ward; Eve Coles, who stood for Chipping Norton; Hywel Davies for Charlbury and Finstock, and Simon Hoare Hailey for Minster Lovell and Leafield are all standing down from the council and will be replaced by new candidates elected on Thursday May 7.

Mr Macrae paid tribute to each one and thanked them for the “enormous amount of hard work” they had put in.

Mark Booty has represented Bampton and Clanfield ward since 2003. He has been a cabinet member since 2007 and deputy leader of the council for the past three years.

His cabinet responsibilities have included community safety, health and innovation. He has also served on a number of committees, including planning.

Eve Coles is retiring after 20 years as a district councillor for Chipping Norton. She has always had a particular interest in environmental issues and has been a member of the environment overview and scrutiny committee since 2001, as well as serving on several other committees and working groups.

Hywel Davies has represented Charlbury and Finstock ward since May 2011. During the last three years, he has served on a number of committees as well as acting as vice-chairman of the environment overview and scrutiny committee.

Simon Hoare has represented the Hailey, Minster Lovell and Leafield ward since 2004 and was appointed to Cabinet in 2007. He was responsible for resources which includes the budget. He is now standing as the Conservative candidate for Dorset North in the General Election and has moved to the area.