NORTH Petherton has a new Town Mayor.

Cllr Phillip Spencer was presented with the chain of office at North Petherton Town Council's recent annual meeting.

As the long-standing chairman of the authority's finance committee, Cllr Spencer has been responsible for the successful management of the council's resources.

He is credited with enabling improvements in services to be combined with lower than average local council tax precept levels.

He replaces Cllr Alan Bradford, who stood down after eight years at the helm.

At the annual meeting, Cllr Bradford thanked his fellow councillors, the clerk and particularly his wife Janet for all the help and support that he had received during his term of office.

His achievements were listed as the recently completed installation of new bus shelters along the A38 and near junction 24 on the M5; the redevelopment of the Memorial Park into one of the most popular play areas locally; the retention of the town library; and the recent relocation from the unsafe building in Fore Street to new premises in the community centre along with the creation of a dedicated office base for the council; the improved and extended maintenance of community areas, particularly during the Covid crisis.

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