Looking forward with pride to being Mayor

It has always been a great privilege to work with and for local people and a job I have been honoured to carry out for 16 years.

It will also be an honour to serve as the Mayor of Kirklees for the next 12 months and represent Dewsbury, the town where I have always lived and care passionately about. I will be the first mayor from Dewsbury East since Kirklees was formed in 1974 and look forward to having local schools from Dewsbury East performing at my mayoral ceremony.

I have requested the civic dinner to be held at Dewsbury Town Hall, a fitting tribute to our town.

I would like to thank the small team of friends and family who have helped me throughout the campaign and the residents from Chickenley, Shaw Cross, Earlsheaton, Hanging Heaton, Ashworth and Eastborough for coming out in their numbers to support me.

I would also like to pay tribute to my fellow candidates, in particular Dennis Hullock, who was a former councillor and colleague. Although a different political party his commitment to the local has always been at the fore and I wish him well for the future.

I am working through the hundreds of problems that people raised with me over the last month or so when I was out on the campaigning trail. The list seems never ending but I promise I will get them all done in the coming weeks! Once again, many thanks for your continued support and I look forward to working with you for a further four years.

COUN ERIC FIRTH

Croftlands

DEWSBURY