NEW WEM town mayor Edward Towers is calling on his fellow councillors to keep pulling together after taking office last week.

Cllr Towers, who served as deputy for the past 12 months, officially took over from Cllr Rosemary Dodd at the joint town council and annual meeting last Tuesday.

Cllr Towers admitted he was delighted to be mayor again – first carrying out the role in 2011/12 – and thanked his predecessor for her work over the past 12 months.

“Thank you so much for this honour – it wasn’t one I expected to repeat,” said Cllr Towers. “It’s a huge honour.

“I think it’s a very happy council since I’ve been on it. I’m glad to see there are people in it from well before me, too.

“It’s scary – I see it like playing cricket when going into bat. You don’t know what’s going to come and it’s a testing time.

“I’ve learnt a lot from last time and thank you for trusting me. I would like to thank Rosemary for all she’s done – she’s done her level best for everything.

“She has always put Wem first. This council works together as equals and I’m looking forward to working with you all.”

Cllr Towers also spoke of how he believes the council works best together as a team and welcomed new councillors Peter White and George Nash.

In the meeting, two planning applications were up for discussion, including the outline application for the building of one dwelling to the north of 58 Noble Street.

The application contained an outline of access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale, but councillors in Wem supported an objection by Shropshire highways.

There was support for a second application at the meeting – a single-storey side extension – but councillors added it must be in keeping with the rest of the area.

Councillors were asked to put forward any future road-safety concerns in Wem to Shropshire Council and it was agreed to suggest zebra crossings for New Street and Pyms Road.

Two items for future agendas were agreed; discussing whether a doctor should be invited to a meeting concerning waiting times and whether a letter should be sent to the Duke of Edinburgh upon his retirement.