CEFIN Evans stressed the importance of working together as a community when he took over as mayor of Newcastle Emlyn.

Cllr Evans accepted the chain of office from outgoing mayor Cllr Peter Lewis at Wednesday night’s mayor-making ceremony at Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn.

In his acceptance speech, he thanked Cllr Lewis for his “truly exceptional” year of service.

“The one thing I would wish is that we all get together and work together as one community,” said Cllr Evans.

“I am not going to make big promises because the finances won’t be there as we face up to cutbacks and there is less money to go around but we must work together as a town and as one big community to have a common goal and that is so vitally important.”

Cllr Evans also stressed the importance of the overseas link to twin town Plonevez in Brittany. A French contingent will be visiting Newcastle Emlyn later this year.

“The links to Brittany are important to our young people, especially the history and heritage and learning from other cultures,” said Cllr Evans.

Outgoing mayor Cllr Lewis said he had enjoyed his year in office and highlighted the resurfacing of the Mart car park and reopening of the Mart toilets through the summer. He also looked forward to work that is due to start imminently on improving the state of the pavements in the town.

“Events such as the food festival, carnival and Victorian night are very important as they bring in large numbers of people to the town,” he added.

He thanked his fellow councillors for their support over the past year and how they had worked so well as a team. He thanked Cllr Maureen Webley for her part in securing £189,000 for the town from the Safer Routes in the Community scheme.

More than £2,350 was raised at the inaugural Mayor and Mayoress’s Ball and Cllr Lewis split the money and presented cheques to the Welsh Air Ambulance and King George V Playing Fields on the night.

Achievement awards were made to Erin Griffiths, for her success in the Urdd National Eisteddfod; Sam Smith for winning four U14 Welsh titles at the national track cycling championships and Dylan Davies, British Classic Enduro champion for 2017.