Oswestry mayor says councillors must work together for the good of the town

Mark Jones, the fourth generation of his family to be a councillor, took over the mayoral role from Councillor Duncan Kerr on Wednesday at the first in-person meeting of the town council for 15 months.

Although pandemic restrictions meant there was none of the usual mayoral pomp and ceremony, his family including mayoress, Ruth, and his father, former Shropshire and Oswestry Borough councillor Ron Jones, were at the meeting to see him put on the mayoral chain.

The meeting had to be held, not in the Guildhall, but the larger, Eastern Oswestry Community Centre, coincidently Councillor Jones' ward.

Councillor Jones, described as 'an Oswestry lad', said he loved the town.

"It has never been a boom or bust town, but a solid town," he said.

"Oswestry needs to keep adapting but we do not need big changes."

The recent elections saw 12 Green Party councillors elected and six, including Councillor Jones from the Conservative party, an enormous shift. He welcomed the the new councillors and paid tribute to those who stood down or lost their seats.

And he thanked Councillor Kerr for his year in office saying that he was sorry that it had been restrictions because of the pandemic.

He said the role of town councillors were as stewards of the town.

"We can disagree but we do not need to be disagreeable," he said.

Councillor Jones said he would prioritise business during his mayoral year and planned to visit as many local businesses as he could.

His charities for the year will be Shropshire Talking Newspaper in memory of his mother, who lost her sight in later life and who use to enjoy listening to it.

"As a rugby man I will also be supporting research into Motor Neurone disease in honour of the rugby player Doddie Weir's Foundation.

Councillor Jay Moore was elected deputy mayor. If he takes over the role of mayor in 12 months time he will be the youngest mayor in 100 years in Oswestry.