Bridgwater Town Council has  announced the appointment of David Mears as Town Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer, in succession to Alan Hurford who is to retire after 15 years in the role. David has been Town Clerk of Langport for some 5 years and has wide experience with several local councils as well as having been a former Town Councillor in Chard. David will take up the post later in the year.

Alan Hurford said ‘David is very well qualified, ambitious and looking for a new challenge. Bridgwater, one of the more forward looking local councils, will certainly welcome him and provide that challenge’.

Changing Role

Councillor Mick Lerry (Bridgwater Victoria) who chairs the Staff Sub-Committee said “The post of Town Clerk for Bridgwater Town Council has changed due to the increased demands on the present post holder, who was initially pointed for 10 hours a week. Dealing with the Development Consent Order during the discussions on the Hinkley C project and the subsequent mitigation programme and extra external meetings, has meant that the post of Town Clerk has to be full time. The development of Forums by the ruling group has meant that not there is much more public involvement and consultation with the people of Bridgwater. David Mears,the new Town Clerk, will have to take many of the projects forward, such as tourism, transport, Celebration Mile, Town Centre development, planning and asset management and income generation”

Hitting the Ground Running

Leader of Bridgwater Town Council Councillor Brian Smedley (Bridgwater Westover) said “David is taking over at an exciting time for Bridgwater so he needs to hit the ground running. In November we will be launching our new Tourism brochure and it will also be the height of carnival season. With 6 new hotels coming to the town and major projects about to be realised we need someone who can pick up from where Alan Hurford left off to help us push these developments forwards. Of course everyone knows Alan will be a hard act to follow but someone with drive, ideas and experience is at least half way there. Our councillors have been working to a Forward Plan each year for the past 4 years and involving the wider community in the decision making, so we see ourselves as an open and inclusive council and the strongest and closest voice for the people we represent. We are confident that with this open minded approach we can work with the other levels of local government to achieve our targets once again this year.”

To find out about the Town Forward Plan and the ‘5 Priorities for co-operation with Sedgemoor’ click here.