Richard Church announces Guildhall retirement

11.15.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 27th Jul 2010

Richard Church- retiring from the Council next year

Northampton Borough Council's longest serving Councillor, Richard Church (Lib Dem, Kingsthorpe), confirmed today that he would not be seeking re-election at next year's Guildhall elections on 5th May.

Cllr. Church, the Guildhall's Cabinet Member for Planning & Regeneration since 2007, was first elected to the authority as a Liberal in 1983 and has been re-elected by the people of Kingsthorpe 6 times since. Cllr. Church is also a former Mayor of Northampton and Leader of the Guildhall's Liberal Democrat Opposition prior to his Party's election win in 2007.

Commenting earlier today, Cllr. Church said:

"It has been a great privilege to serve the people of Kingsthorpe over the last twenty-eight years. Effectively representing those people was all I originally set out to do, and over the years I have kept in touch and consulted with the people I represent with over 200 community newsletters.

"The last 3 years as a member of the council's cabinet have been the best by far. After a long period of stagnation, the Council has been turned around by the Lib Dem administration elected in 2007 and real change for the better is being seen in the heart of the town. Just walk around our town centre and you pick up a new sense of optimism for its future. Sometimes it's been tough, difficult decisions have been taken, but the benefits are coming through.

"We must ensure that the good work continues. Over the next ten months, I will be working flat out to ensure the Liberal Democrats win a second term in charge at the Guildhall.

"Over the next four years, the Council needs to redouble its efforts to attract inward investment in our town, both public and private, and work even closer with businesses in the town and public sector partners to ensure we bring more jobs to our town, supported by strong, financially sound public services.

"With an agreement to redevelop the Grosvenor Centre and Greyfriars Bus Station now signed, planning powers set to return to the Council and Labour's inflated housing targets scrapped, the Councils role in leading the regeneration of our town will be greater than ever.

Leader of the Council, Brian Hoare (Lib Dem, Abington) added:

"Richard has given fantastic service to the residents of Kingsthorpe and the Borough Council over the last twenty-eight years. "He deserves our thanks and I hope I speak for Councillors of all parties in wishing him well.

Richard has led the Liberal Democrat revival of our town centre since our victory in 2007. His knowledge and love of Northampton has helped him to know what was right for the town centre and to have the determination to ensure the improvements were delivered.

"I know that Richard will continue as a County Councillor to ensure that Northampton's position as the County Town is properly recognised by the County Council.."