Saundersfoot Council elects new chair

Saundersfoot Community Council has a new chair, with Cllr Martyn Williams BEM taking the role again.

Outgoing Chairman Cllr Dean Ludlow said at the May meeting of the Community Council that it had been a ‘great honour’ for him, as he thanked fellow members for their support during his term in the role.

Cllr Ludlow reported that his last official duty as Chairman was to officially open the bowling club season on April 8 by bowling the first wood as Saundersfoot Bowls Club kicked off the season.

“I took my son Lewis and Councillors Knibbs and Williams came along also, and it was a lovely afternoon with the sun out and a buffet afterwards for us to enjoy and I would like to thank them for their hospitality and wish them the best for the season,” he said.

“I took up the Chair not in the normal manner, but under controversial issues which unfortunately have followed me throughout my time as Chair, which was a shame as, I feel it’s overshadowed the good work we have done as a new Community Council, which the majority has been done by the new members joining only within the past year.

“I hope, moving forward under our new Chairman and in the normal fashion, we all get back to working for the good of the village and leave personal issues at the door and work collectively, as this I feel is when we do our best work which can only benefit the village.

“I would like to thank our County Councillors for their input on matters in our village and county wide and I am sure they will continue at pace to work with the Community Council to improve further issues within the village.

“It’s been a great honour for me to Chair Saundersfoot Community Council in the village I have grown up in and hope we can continue to make a difference, with new challenges and new Councillors joining looking to do the same,” continued Cllr Ludlow.

“I never thought I would meet Royalty but again being Chairman of Saundersfoot Community Council gave me that opportunity, and I will always be grateful for that and of equal importance judging the pumpkin competition and many more engagements has been something I have enjoyed immensely.

“One duty that I did not expect to carry out was to acknowledge the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and to co-ordinate the book of condolence for Saundersfoot residents to leave their personally messages in. I believe this was done with respect and dignity.

“I would like to thank my Vice Chairman for all his help and support throughout my term of office and attending many meeting in the daytime which unfortunately, due to work, I was unable to attend.

“I would like to wish Martyn, our new Chairman, all the best in his role and myself and fellow Councillors to support what we the Community Council are all about and make every effort to attend our meetings and get involved with important decisions we must deal with as it’s an important role we take on and we do that collectively all under the Community Council banner! Thank you all again for your support it was much appreciated,” he added.

Cllr Williams BEM thanked the Council for nominating him, once again, as Chair to the Community Council.

He thanked Cllr Ludlow, advising that he was a ‘credit’ to Saundersfoot and over the past year has acted professionally and with dignity at all times.