THERE will be no change in Yate and Chipping Sodbury’s leadership this year as both town’s mayors have been re-elected.

Cllr Wully Perks again takes up the chain of office as chairman of Yate Town Council and mayor of the town. Cllr Tony Davis was elected as vice-chairman and deputy mayor.

Cllr Perks, who will be serving his final year as mayor, said he was looking forward to promoting Yate again in 2014/15.

"I always wanted to be the people's mayor," he said. "To be available to go out and meet people.

"I believe Yate is a wonderful place to live and my theme as mayor has been to celebrate all that is great about Yate."

Despite undergoing chemotherapy for chronic leukemia, Cllr Perks, a lay preacher at St Mary's Church, has not missed many public engagements.

"I want to carry on promoting the town," he said. "I am coming through things myself, it has been a difficult year for me but I am hoping this year will be better and there are many things to look forward to going forward."

In Chipping Sodbury, Cllr Wendy Whittle was unanimously voted back in as chairman of Sodbury Town Council and mayor. She has already served one-and-a-half years having taken over from Cllr Paul Jobbins, who retired due to ill health in 2012.

She will be helped by deputy mayor and vice-chairman Cllr Paddy Smith.

Cllr Whittle, who has herself battled heart problems this year, said she was looking forward to serving Chipping Sodbury for another year.

“I really enjoy it,” she said. “I am looking forward to seeing the opening of the new Ridings play area which we are transforming this summer.

“The town council is also busy looking at a traffic calming scheme in the High Street and Broad Street and we are continuing to get to the bottom of who owns the pitchings, something I am keen to sort out.”

Both mayors said they were pleased to have such a good working relationship with eachother which benefitted both Yate and Chipping Sodbury.