A DISTRICT councillor and community activist has defected from the Liberal Democrats to join the Green Party.

Robert Vint announced he had joined Totnes Green Party as a result of his growing involvement with green community issues in the area.

Mr Vint was first elected as a Lib Dem councillor in May 2007. He has served as a member of the party for the last three years.

He said his decision to stand for the council three years ago grew out of his involvement with a wide range of community groups including Transition Town Totnes, Totnes Development Trust and the Allotment Association.

He said his decision to jump ship and join the Green party was a natural progression.

Mr Vint said: "I am a community activist, not a party politician. I can assure the people who voted for me that I will not be changing my policies in any way, but am simply responding to a changing situation.

"Nationally the Lib Dems have entered into a coalition that inevitably involves some very uncomfortable compromises.

"While this has had no effect at all on the good work of the local party, it leaves me associated with national policies on welfare cuts, nuclear weapons and nuclear power stations with which I cannot identify.

"Meanwhile the once-tiny local Green Party has rapidly flourished to become a major voice of the community.

"I will not be straying from any of the election promises on which I was elected.

"The Totnes Lib Dems have a local manifesto that, thanks especially to the work of my colleague Councillor Anne Ward, is packed with excellent policies on social, environmental and local democracy issues that are very similar to those of the Green Party.

"I feel that the two parties are natural partners and I look forward to continuing to work closely with the Lib Dem group on the district council."

Lydia Somerville, the parliamentary candidate for the Green Party in the May general election, said: "I am delighted to welcome Robert into South Hams Green Party and look forward to campaigning with him on affordable housing, supporting local businesses, keeping public services local and harnessing local renewable energy."