A NEW mayor has been elected to serve on Ross-on-Wye Town Council.

Councillor Lindon Delves was unanimously voted into the role at Monday’s meeting, having served as deputy mayor for the past 12 months.

In accepting the position, Cllr Delves said: “I am extremely proud to be representing the residents of this town in the role as a mayor.

“I carried out a number of Remembrance Day duties in November last year and felt this was important role for the mayor to undertake. I’ll shall try my best to do my duty to the best of my ability.”

Cllr Delves went on to pay tribute to Phil Cutter who died last week having served as mayor of the town on three occasions.

Outgoing mayor Cllr Bev Pope said that while she had highlighted her year in office at the parish meeting last month, she said: “I would like to take this opportunity to talk about my mayoral year. I would like to thank all the council officers, councillors and friends who’ve given me support surrounding the role, advice about speeches and running meetings.

“But I have been suffering from a medical condition that gives me migraines, often triggered by indoor lighting. I hope that despite this, I have done a good enough job in the role as mayor.

“I am very aware that 50 years ago when the town had its first mayor, I don’t think I could have undertaken the role at that time without appropriate support and the lack of understanding of people who have an invisible disability that I received today.

“Something that I have observed in the new mayor is that when he quietly expresses an opinion, it is always delivered with sincerity. I hope members will value his integrity and attention to detail and support him over the coming year.”

Cllr Sarah Freer was voted as the deputy mayor for the following year.