NEYLAND’S new mayor said he wants to use his year to bring various groups from around the town together.

At the annual meeting of Neyland Town Council on Tuesday, May 7, Councillor William ‘Bill’ McGarvie was selected as the mayor for the next year.

Cllr Simon Hancock, the previous mayor of Neyland, was selected as deputy mayor.

Cllr McGarvie said: “There’s a little bit of trepidation, but I’m looking forward to it as a bit of a challenge. There are lots to get involved in over the next year.

“I would like to get involved in pulling the various groups in Neyland together.

“I was involved in the twinning committee, we used to have a lot of groups coming together, it would be better to have the groups come together rather than work independently.”

Mayor Cllr McGarvie said there was more power in groups working together than separately.

For the mayor’s charity Cllr McGarvie said he had picked Paul Sartori, but added he hopes to raise money for other charities throughout the year.

Cllr McGarvie praised the Cllr Hancock for his work during the last year.

“I think the previous mayor did a lot of work, I will be carrying on that work, for example building the play park,” he said.

“I think Simon is almost a professional mayor he’s going to be a difficult act to follow, but everyone [on the council] should give it a try.

“I would like to thank him for his advice.”

Cllr Hancock said there was now in place the best team of councillors he had had the pleasure of working with.

“I have never been so optimistic and positive about the future of our town,” he said. “There are a lot of positive developments and renewed civic pride.”