Bovey Tracey mayor, Cllr Sheila Brooke, has been re-elected for another year in office.

Fellow town councillors endorsed the popular mayor for what will be her third year in office at a town council meeting this week. They also elected Cllr Debbie Fletcher for another term as deputy mayor.

Cllr Brooke, pictured, said: ‘This year it has been a pleasure to see community groups, schools, and businesses spring back to life as the pandemic changes. Covid brought us closer together as a community, helping each other and supporting residents who are more vulnerable.

‘Covid changed us, making us even more aware of each other, some of the changes have been for the better. It has highlighted to us all how daunting and lonely social isolation is and many of the initiatives to keep people in touch with each other during the pandemic will remain, helping people to stay more connected.

‘With the help of residents Bovey Tracey Town Council has responded proactively to progress the Green Agenda and has become much more aware of environmental issues, changing the way we work.

‘Day to day council work was maintained to ensure residents continued to receive services that we provide. We have also spent time improving and modernising our business infrastructure to ensure we are the council they need.

‘I am proud to have been a part of this recovery over the last 12 months and look forward to continuing to work with residents and my fellow councillors.’

Cllr Brooke went on to thank the council for their confidence in voting for her, saying: ‘I’d like to say a big thank you. I am pleased to represent the town council again, and I’d like to thank councillors for all their hard work in what has been another strange year. We should be proud for what we have achieved.’

During the meeting councillors reported on preparations for the Platinum Jubilee, a revival of the Free Trade group and the plans to grow the Business in Bovey organisation.

With an eye on the prize in the forthcoming In Bloom competition the re-elected mayor also heard an appeal for residents to take part in a tidy-up in advance of the judging on July 11.

She said: ‘It’s so nice to see things beginning to bounce back again now. Bovey Tracey – a great place to live!’

Bovey Tracey mayor pleased at town’s resurgence