New mayor to be elected

2:41pm Thursday 8th May 2008

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THE new mayor of Ledbury is scheduled to be appointed tonight, Thursday May 8, following a vote by town councillors in the Market House.

The Ledbury Council has a policy of nominating a major elect, in advance of the mayor-making vote.

This year the mayor-elect was Cllr Keith Francis, the deputy mayor.

If elected, it will be Cllr Francis' second term as mayor.

Speaking before the meeting, the outgoing mayor, Dr Kay Swinburne said it was her intention to formally nominate Cllr Francis for mayor.

Other candidates could stand against Cllr Francis but she had not heard that any candidates would do so.

Looking back on her on her time as mayor, Cllr Swinburne said she was pleased at the closer links between the town council and local businesses.

One reason for this development was the way that councillors and local traders worked together to overcome problems caused by water main repairs in the town centre.

She also welcomed the arrival of major business developments in town, such as the Universal Beverages' purchase of Robertson's Ledbury Preserves, to create the largest cider mill in Western Europe.