PRICKWILLOW residents made history on Monday night when they brought home rule’ to their village.Eleven men and women were voted on to the new Prickwillow Village Council to represent villagers’ interests.Although the

PRICKWILLOW residents made history on Monday night when they brought home rule’ to their village.

Eleven men and women were voted on to the new Prickwillow Village Council to represent villagers’ interests.

Although the new council will have no official power, it has been launched so that villagers can monitor how their council tax is being spent by the city, district and county councils.

Its new chairman, former Ely City Councillor Tony Pearson, said: “Prickwillow was the last bit of the fens to be drained and it only became a village 150 years ago. It has always been part of Ely and Ely City Council is effectively our parish council.

“Now this council will have villagers the chance to monitor the authorities that spend our council tax and make sure we are getting our money’s worth.”

The new council held its first meeting on Monday night when its 11 members were formally elected and its constitution adopted.

Legal secretary, Wendy Wilson, becomes the council’s new secretary and Doug Langston its treasurer.

Members were also given a talk by East Cambridgeshire county development worker, Jo Fitzpatrick from Cambridgeshire ACRE.

The council will meet every two months on the first Monday of the month and members of the public are welcome.