CLAIRE Hewlett and Rob Rotchell are the new mayor and deputy of Camelford, following a vote last Thursday evening.

Councillors were asked to choose their next mayor at the full council meeting, where they were joined by newly elected councillors, Ayla Ackroyd Johnson and Aaron Scawn.

Two nominations had been received for the role of mayor — Cllr Hewlett and Cllr Andy Shaw. Town clerk, Esther Grieg, passed a piece of paper to each councillor to note their preferred choice, and each nominee was able to say a few words.

Cllr Shaw began the proceedings. He said: “I’m concerned that we’re running too quickly. We’re having some serious developments and projects that have taken place over the last few years and we need to get these up and running properly. I think we are running before we can walk.

“I also think it’s down to experience. I’m not the most popular man in Camelford and I’m not going to win any beauty contests, but my heart is in Camelford.”

Cllr Hewlett, who was deputy mayor and has been acting mayor since the resignation of Kirsty Ferguson in March, said: “Firstly I’d like to thank my fellow councillors and staff for supporting me over the last few months. Being deputy mayor has been an interesting experience. Now I feel better placed to ask you to vote for me as your next mayor, I think it’s important to recognise the need to develop councillor vision.

“I would be a strong voice for Camelford and I would like to work on developing a really strong team. We are growing as a council and have many challenges ahead. I would like to focus on long term sustainability for the council.”

Cllr Hewlett explained that she moved to the Camelford area in the early 2000s for a ‘quieter life’ — receiving quite the opposite. “Camelford has so much to offer and I think we need to sing our praises a bit more, as no one is going to do it for us,” she added.

The voting then took place, and after the count, Ms Grieg announced that Cllr Hewlett had won the mayoral seat, with six votes to five. Responding in good humour, Cllr Shaw said: “It’s because you’re prettier than me.”

With just one nomination for deputy mayor, councillors voted in favour of Rob Rotchell taking the seat.

Cllr Rotchell, who is also Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Camelford, said: “When Claire spoke to me some weeks ago about wanting to go for the role of mayor, I was quite comfortable with the motion as she has had a natural progression. As mayor, it is important to understand the way councils work and the way Cornwall Council is set up as well.

“I have been mayor twice and have a breadth of knowledge of how the council works. One thing I think is clear to many is how undoubtedly passionate I am about Camelford.

“I plan to do this for one year to let Claire grow as mayor and give you as a council the opportunity to grow. So there’s two main things for me here — one, my undoubted commitment to the town; and two, to give you people this opportunity to get to grips of being a councillor so you too can be mayor in three, four, five, six years’ time.”

Cllr Hewlett has demonstrated a passion for local projects, having been involved in the Camelford Clean Air Group, Plastic Free Camelford and leading campaigns for a bypass. She is also the Green Party advocate for North Cornwall.

Cllr Rotchell is also Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for adults, with responsibilities in health and social care integration, social care services for adults, prevention and wellbeing services and vulnerable adults safeguarding.

Cllr Rotchell has also undertaken a number of projects in the town, including campaigning for a bypass.