THE outgoing mayor of St Austell has been looking back at his year in office and has said it was an honour and a pleasure to serve in the role.

Cllr Julian Young gave a review of the year to fellow councillors, providing an overview of town centre revitalisation activities including the start of work on the piazza outside the parish church.

He said that during the year the council agreed additional funding for town centre security guards, town centre planting schemes and Christmas lights. The council had also improved the planting at St Austell Railway Station and at a number of roundabouts.

The council had provided free parking in Priory Car Park on Saturdays in December for Christmas shoppers and on the day of council elections in May. In addition, car parking charges were frozen for the current financial year.

The electric vehicle charging points are attracting more use which Cllr Young said will hopefully mean more footfall in the town centre.

Meanwhile, the council’s mobile CCTV camera had helped to reduce anti-social behaviour in a couple of areas around the town.

Cllr Young said the town centre fun day in August had been very successful and he hoped it would be a blueprint for future events.

He also said that the council had lobbied Cornwall Council about a change in bus routes which had adversely impacted St Austell and had facilitated community events in the town’s parks, including the Party in the Park, Yoga in the Park and an Easter Fun Day.

Facilities in some of the parks had been improved, while 40 trees had been planted in parks and open spaces.

The new mayor is Cllr Colin Hamilton who has served as the deputy to Cllr Young. The town’s mayor making ceremony is due to take place on Wednesday, June 18.