A shadow has been cast over the elections in Chatteris with the death yesterday of town councillor Terence (Terry) Shad.

Cambs Times: Topping out ceremony. New Tesco foodstore at Chatteris.Left: Cllr Alex Miscandlon, Liz Dent from Dentan Williams, Cllr Terry Shad and Darren Clayton for R G Carter projects Ltd Picture: Steve Williams.Topping out ceremony. New Tesco foodstore at Chatteris.Left: Cllr Alex Miscandlon, Liz Dent from Dentan Williams, Cllr Terry Shad and Darren Clayton for R G Carter projects Ltd Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

Cllr Shad, who moved with his wife Janet to Chatteris in 2004 had served one term on the council and chaired the planning working group.

He and his wife celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary last August. Cllr Shad also leaves three children: Beverley, Aileen and Adrian, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Town Clerk Joanna Melton said: “His death came as shock. He offered his apologies at Tuesday’s meeting because he was in hospital but the last I heard he thought he had turned the corner.

“He only served one term on the town council but he was talking of re-standing although his papers were never submitted. He was a hardworking councillor and will be sadly missed.”

Elections to the town council itself on May 7 won’t be happening as too few candidates have put themselves forward.

There is no election in any of the four wards with candidates being returned unopposed in three and with not one person standing in the fourth - Slade Lode.

Nine of the 12 seats up for grabs have already been filled according to the list of candidates declared to Fenland District Council.

Six of those standing are currently sitting councillors and there are just three new faces.

Mayor James Carney and Bill Haggatta are returned unopposed in Birch Ward with newcomer Ian Taylor filling the third of the three seats available.

James Burrow is also returned unopposed in The Mills with the other newcomers: Anne Hay and Julie smith also being elected without opposition.

Anne Hay has also been returned unopposed to represent The Mills ward on Fenland District Council.

Wenneye sees a full complement of existing councillors: Florence Newell, Linda Ashley and Peter Murphy being returned unopposed.

Mr Murphy was previously councillor for Slade Lode on the town council but has represented Wenneye at district level and decided to switch wards so he could represent it on both levels.

His fellow Slade Lode town councillors Chris Howes and Richard Key have both decided to step down and no-one has offered to stand in their place leaving all three seats without any candidates.

Mrs Melton said the council has the power to co-opt members to fill vacant seats and that will be looked at after the election.