New chairman says it's a "great privilege" to be asked again

MJW 1705

Councillor Martin Watkins has been elected as chairman of Wilmslow Town Council for the current Council year and Councillor Gary Barton has been elected as the Vice-Chairman.

Councillor Watkins, who held the position two years ago, represents the Dean Row Ward and Councillor Barton, who is also a Cheshire East councillor for Wilmslow West and Chorley, continues with the role of Vice-Chairman which he held last year.

After his appointment, Councillor Martin Watkins made the following statement:

It is a great privilege to be asked again to be the Chairman of Wilmslow Town Council. It is also a humbling experience. Naturally there are matters which repeatedly hit the headlines and individuals get hot under the collar, but there are amazing people in our community. Amazing for the contribution they make, unsung heroes, who day in, day out, work hard to make our lives that bit richer and that bit better. And then there are those experiencing real difficulties who are the very last to complain and sometimes need others to act on their behalf.

This year, I am also the Chairman of the Northern Area of the Royal Air Forces Association known as RAFA. This membership lead charity provides friendship, support and charitable assistance to those who have served and their families. There are over 10,000 members in the North. The fastest growing area of our work is the befriending service. In this modern age, it is a sad reflection on our society that there are so many people living behind a closed front door who do not speak to another human being from one day to the next and whose sole company is a television.

These two roles have similarities. I am proud that it was Wilmslow Town Council who provided the funding which allows the Citizens Advice Bureau to return to our town. And I am proud that we as a Council recognise the work of the food banks whilst wishing these were not necessary in the first place. And I am proud of our own befriending service in being able to support, to one degree or another, the voluntary groups who make Wilmslow a better town and a better place.

With all this in mind, I strongly believe that the work and contribution of individuals and companies in our local area needs to be recognised and documented. Whether this be Lindow Man, Romany, Alan Turing, the Fustian Society or indeed the CAB, for Wilmslow is the place where all that started, we need to do it. Thus I very much support the work of Transition Wilmslow in seeking to establish a Heritage Centre. They alone, nor Wilmslow Town Council nor Cheshire East, can do this. We must work together to achieve what I believe would be a lasting memorial to our past and a window to an uncertain future.

Tags:
Martin Watkins, Wilmslow Town Council
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Comments

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Pete Taylor
Wednesday 18th May 2016 at 10:30 pm
"And I am proud that we as a Council recognise the work of the food banks whilst wishing these were not necessary in the first place."

Could you provide any evidence that you have written to our MP expressing your concerns on this subject? I not only address this to you personally but to WTC collectively.