New mayor plays down politics

THE new Mayor of Uckfield has called on his fellow councillors to pull together for sake of the town.

Barrie Murray was elected to the office at an extraordinary meeting of the council this week. The post became vacant when former mayor Mike Skinner announced he was moving to Herefordshire.

Cllr Murray said: Now I have got the chair, I consider the position to be non-political. I am a person who can be approached by anybody in the town. I, and my fellow councillors, are here for their benefit.

Any large project, such as the Tesco s development, will be discussed fully, with the population of Uckfield giving their verdict for and against. All I am interested in is in Uckfield s continued progress.

This is going to be a team effort. There will be no individuals in the town council. I want us to pull together for the sake of the town.

Cllr Murray s comments will be seen by some as an attempt to move away from the more overtly political mayoralty of the former mayor and fellow Libdem councillor, Mr Skinner.

Cllr Murray, 63, is married to Sheila and has lived in the town since 1964. He served in the Royal Horseguards from 1956 - 59.

He has been a member of the town council since 1991. He works for the Axminster carpets group.

Cllr Mrs Hilary Cary was also elected as the new deputy mayor this week. The post became vacant because Cllr Murray had previously been deputy mayor.