GREAT Sankey South councillor Amanda King has announced that she will not be seeking re-election to Warrington Borough Council at the all-out elections in May.

She says it is ‘with no small measure of sadness’ that she has let residents in Great Sankey South know she will not be seeking re-election as their councillor.

“It has been a privilege and a pleasure to have served my community on Warrington Borough Council for the last eight years,” she added.

“I have been proud to work alongside my Labour Party colleagues who have been elected alongside me throughout both of my terms of office.

“Over recent weeks, I have been humbled by the significant number of residents who have approached me and offered their support in the event that I chose to stand for election once again. I am truly grateful to have the backing of my neighbours and friends – nevertheless, having taken on some significant new responsibilities in my professional life, coupled with a recent family bereavement, I have decided that now is the right time for me to step back and hand the baton on to the next councillor for Great Sankey South.

“I can look back on the work I have done over the past eight years with a great deal of satisfaction. My fellow ward councillors and I have delivered many positive results for our community. We have secured substantial investment throughout the ward, supported a wide range of businesses, local employers and community groups, raised standards for the most vulnerable, and assisted hundreds of constituents with individual issues ranging from inadequate housing, anti-social behaviour, and access to health provision. We have improved local facilities and amenities; worked for a cleaner, greener environment; undertaken repairs to street lighting and road surfaces; and championed the cause of Great Sankey South at every available opportunity.

“Putting the community first has been at the heart of everything I have tried to do. That is why residents can be assured that I will continue to represent them positively and pro-actively until my very last day as a councillor.

“When the election comes, I will be campaigning in support of my colleagues and friends, Mo Hussain, Laura Watson and Leah Hussain, who will be standing as our Labour Party candidates here in Great Sankey South. I hope that voters will feel able to offer each of them the same level of support they have shown to me over the last eight years. They I believe will deliver a positive future for the ward, to ensure equal opportunities for all, and continue to make Great Sankey South a thriving neighbourhood where people can be proud to live, work and send their children to school.

“The Town Hall is benefitting from the strong-yet-measured leadership of Hans Mundry. Both Hans and Cllr Denis Matthews offer a renewed sense of purpose, a clear direction and a vision for our town that has been lacking in recent years. I wish them every success and look forward to working alongside them over these next few months.

“Whilst I have not ruled out standing for the council again in the future, after the elections, I will be taking some time to focus on my professional commitments, as well as my continuing to pursue my voluntary work in various regional organisations, voluntary groups as well as my local Catholic Church.”