TOGETHER with the councillors and officers of Droitwich Spa Town Council, my wife and I would like to wish you a happy new year.

The festive season is a time when we not only remember the events that took place two thousand years ago, we also reflect on the past year. In my case, 2014 has been a very busy time. When I was appointed and took the oath of office last May, I remarked that I thought my year as mayor would be a very eventful one, and so it has proved.

We are fortunate in Droitwich Spa to have such a strong community. In my role as mayor, I am privileged to meet many of the people and organisations who give freely of their time to contribute to the various festivals and events that we so much enjoy and that make our town a great place to live. I would like to say a special thank you to those residents who organise activities such as art, football, swimming, and scouting for our children to enjoy. By doing so, they are positively shaping the future of our town and its community.

I would also like to thank the members of our business community for the way in which they have helped my wife and me with our work for charity. We have many great local businesses here who support the town, and I urge you all to support them so they may thrive and grow, and continue to play their part in our community.

I was very pleased that your town council were able to re-introduce a regular weekly market, something that many residents felt had been missing for far too long. In my experience, a market is not just a place to buy things, it is also a social event with the opportunity to meet friends and have a cup of tea and a chat. A welcome change from the supermarket queue.

We have much to look forward to in the new year, with proposals to improve the infrastructure of our high street and the rejuvenation of the area around the Raven Hotel. I thank all those of you who came to the various public meetings and took a real interest in the future development of Droitwich. Recently we also had the good news that a major car-component manufacturer has chosen to open a new manufacturing facility at Berry Hill, which will provide many new jobs for the people of Droitwich.

A range of events and festivals are already being planned for 2015, and the town council will be looking at ways to build on the previous successes. Our events are not only fun for residents, they attract visitors, increase footfall for traders, and add to our local economy.

2015 promises to be a good year with many opportunities for us all to enjoy taking part in the life of Droitwich Spa.

I wish you all a happy, peaceful and prosperous new year.

Bob Brookes

Mayor of Droitwich Spa