The newly elected Wallingford Mayor has promised to pursue progress for a number of long-running town projects as he takes on the ceremonial role.

Wallingford town councillor Nigel Hughes was sworn in as the new Mayor of Wallingford on May 12, taking over the reigns from councillor Ros Lester, with councillor Mark Hoskins as deputy mayor.

The traditional mayor making ceremony at the town hall involved both the incoming and outgoing mayors, and was attended by local dignitaries, former mayors and other town councillors.

Councillor Nigel Hughes took over from Ros Lester as Mayor of Wallingford (Image: Wallingford Town Council)

Having served in office for the municipal year since last May, Mrs Lester thanked those who had supported her throughout her year in office, including deputy mayor councillor Christine Sandall.

The new mayor gave a speech which thanked Mrs Lester for her service, and paid tribute to the town council and its past members for its ‘strong tradition of public service’.

Looking ahead to the year ahead, the mayor highlighted a number of key priorities for the council, including progressing the Bull Croft play park project, finding a realistic path forward for the Regal Centre, and supporting much-needed renovations to the historic town hall to ensure it continues to serve the community for generations to come.

Mr Hughes also spoke about the importance of Wallingford’s community groups, volunteers and residents, stating his commitment to supporting the people and organisations that make the town such a strong and vibrant community.