Town mayor starting second term in office
CARMARTHEN Mayor Cllr Gareth John is starting a second term.
He was elected to continue as mayor for a second year in succession and during an online ceremony reflected on a difficult year for the town due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last year Carmarthen Town Council was the first council in Wales to hold a virtual mayor-making as the pandemic took hold and forced the UK into lockdown.
Cllr John said the past year had posed many social, economic and cultural challenges for Carmarthen Town Council and the town as a whole, with local businesses in particular having suffered from the challenges of long periods of lockdown and the lack of visitors and shoppers to the town.
He said: “My thoughts are with all of those who have been ill with the virus and I wish to express my sincere condolences to all those who have lost family members or friends to this dreadful illness.”
Cllr John, who established the town centre recovery group that continues to meet every week to discuss the pathway out of lockdown, added: “We have worked hard with many partners as a town council to co-ordinate the economic recovery of the town and this has been very challenging and will continue to be the case for some time to come.
“People have lost their jobs, and many businesses are still really struggling.”
He said the focus was now on the months ahead as we enter the second half of the year.
Cllr John added: “As we open up our town during the summer hopefully there will be opportunities for the local economy to recover as quickly as possible.”
The mayor paid tribute to all the groups and volunteers offering assistance in response to the pandemic, especially Carmarthen Foodbank, Carmarthen Round Table, the Salvation Army, chapels and churches and the Community Care Group consisting of over 50 volunteers who put themselves forward to help provide support to local vulnerable people.
He also referred to the long list of ‘firsts’ during the year due to the changing circumstances and continued positive developments in the town.
These included the provision of benches and parasols at the park and castle forecourt and free hanging baskets for businesses previously part of the scheme.
Cllr John also recognised the hard work of council staff during the last year to respond to the situation and fill the roles that needed to be filled while bringing people together.
Cllr Miriam Moules was re-elected for a second successive year as the Deputy Mayor and Cllr Wyn Thomas was again appointed as Sheriff of Carmarthen.
Cllr John declared his wife Claire as his Mayoress, and the Reverend Beti-wyn James as the Mayor’s Chaplain for the year.