NEW blood and fresh faces should be welcomed onto Ledbury Town Council this spring, according to the chairman of the town council, Cllr Nina Shields.

Cllr Shields gave her views at a recent meeting of Ledbury Rotary Club, where she also indicated that the town council will run sessions next month and during March for anyone keen to hear what is involved in becoming a town councillor.

She said of the town council, which has seen troubled times in recent years, with a number of high-profile resignations and a divisive Judicial review, which the town council lost: “The whole council is up for election in May. This is a good opportunity to get some ‘new blood’ on to the council, particularly as some councillors have indicated that they are standing down.

"The democratic process works best when all sections of the community are represented. It’s useful if some candidates have some middle management experience but key is the ability to keep an open mind and constructively debate different points of view."

She added that the council is planning some open sessions in February and March "to explain to those interested how the Town Council operates and what is involved in being a councillor”.

At the Rotary Meeting, local couple Chris and Bella Johnson became the latest members to join Ledbury Rotary.

Rotary Club press spokesperson, Jan Long said: "Chris and Bella, who are both well known in the town, remarked that they were delighted to be part of the Rotary Movement and looked forward to participating in the many and varied activities whilst serving the community."

Club President David Tombs said it was always a pleasure to induct new members, and "to hear the issues and challenges for the future facing Ledbury Town Council, with the hope for a brighter future for all concerned".