LEADERS in politics, business and the community in West Oxfordshire are calling on new Witney MP to make sure he focuses on the key issues in the area.

These include transport and housing issues as well as making sure the local economy does not suffer as the country leaves the European Union.

Chairman of Carterton's Chamber of Trade Phil Scott said he and the business community were pleased with the result of the by-election.

IN PICTURES: All the action as votes counted through the night 

He said: "We need somebody that can support the local businesses and I understand Mr Courts is very committed to doing that.

"What we'd like to see is somebody who can help keep business tax down and business rates at a sensible level.

"We're very pleased as a business community that he got in."

Churches Together in Witney hosted the first by-election hustings event in High Street Methodist Church on October 10.

Chairman of the group, the Rev Jason Boyd, said: “There’s a lot of concern about the development of Witney as a town depending on fixing the bottleneck on the A40 connecting it to Oxford. That really has to be sorted.

“The issue of grammar schools also seemed to evoke strong feelings. The development of education in Witney seems really important to a lot of people.

“I just hope he will continue to engage with the local community and get to know it. He needs to get to know the issues that matter to people here.”

Political figures in the area told the Oxford Mail that Mr Courts, who has not said whether he will continue in his role as district councillor, is now in a prime position to take on some key issues affecting the area.

Conservative leader of West Oxfordshire District Council James Mills said: “I’m absolutely delighted for Robert and think he will be an excellent MP for West Oxfordshire.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to work with him in his new role. I’ve seen him working here on the council and know how hard working he is.

“He’ll be faced with the issues of the A40, the economy and housing, and I think he’s in a very good position to be a strong voice for West Oxfordshire in Parliament.”

Leader of Witney Town Council and fellow Tory Toby Morris said it was ‘good news’ for his town.

He said: “It’s good news for Witney. I think because he’s a local chap and we know his work from the district council it’s a really good result for the town.

“It’s been absolutely fantastic having the Prime Minister as our MP for the past 10 years but it will be nice to now have a real local MP.”

Mayor of Carterton and Conservative district councillor Lynn Little, said she believed Mr Courts had the ‘passion’ required to represent the constituency.”

She said: “He has made promises to Carterton about housing and supporting the council’s master plan for the right kind of development in the area – as well as supporting our homeless veterans.

“We now want an MP who can support us with moving forward on some of these issues. I believe he is a man of integrity and a very hard worker, and now he needs to look at Carterton with a capital C.”

Labour county councillor for Witney Laura Price said her party would be holding Mr Courts to account on his election promises.

She said: “I think Labour ran a really positive campaign driven by our local work and I'm pleased that came through in our results.

“We will now be holding Mr Courts to account on his election promises and making sure that he's pressed to deliver on them.”