THE NEW secretary of Winsford Carnival's committee would like to offer an olive branch to Winsford Town Council after tensions between the two.

Debbie Lewis has replaced Karen Morris as secretary. Karen has decided she no longer wants the role but will continue as a committee member.

A stand off between the council and the carnival committee has been growing over recent weeks.

Mayor Jim Hughes was upset at not being invited to the carnival queen selection evening, before the council refused to grant any funding for the carnival, only agreeing to underwrite losses.

Debbie said: "In my new role I would like to stop this situation from deteriorating and to invite both the mayor and the council to meet myself and the chairman, Peter Beetham, to see if we can somehow calm the waters and heal the rift.

"We also want to assure the Mayor that failing to invite him to this year's retinue meeting was purely an oversight and was in no way meant as a snub."

Winsford Town Clerk June Williams said if the carnival committee writes to them to officially request a meeting they will put it on the agenda and consider the matter.