COUNCILLOR Mark Lithgow has been elected as the new mayor of Wellington to serve the town for the 2026/27 municipal year.

He was elected unopposed during Wellington Town Council’s annual meeting on May 6 having previously served as vice-chairman of the authority.

Cllr Lithgow, who joined the council in 2017 having lived in the town since 1985, had previously served as mayor for a two-year period from 2021 to 2023.

His biography on the town council’s website reads that the “main reason for wanting to become a town councillor, was to be a voice for the residents of Wellington – especially for the more vulnerable residents such as a the young or elderly.”

And it added: “Cllr Lithgow feels it is important to work collaboratively with the other councillors, regardless of their political party, to get the best for the people of Wellington.”

Cllr Lithgow took over the mayoral chain of office from Cllr Janet Lloyd who had been mayor from 2024 and it completed her third stint in the role having also served from 2015/16 and 2019 to 2021.

“It’s been a very busy couple of years, but I think as council we have done very well,” said Cllr Lloyd.

The out-going mayor said she was extremely pleased that the town was becoming widely known for its open spaces and Britain-in-Bloom efforts and that the job going forward was to “keep up the good work.”

And Cllr Lloyd told her colleagues that she would be standing down from the council at next year’s local elections having first joined the authority in 2007.

“I’ve been on the council for 19 years now, but I would like to let you know that I won’t be looking for re-election at next year’s local elections,” she said and also told councillors it would be her 80th birthday in September next year.

But Cllr Lloyd said people would “not be seeing the back of her just yet” as she would be continuing her work on Sampford Arundel Parish Council.

Cllr Justin Cole congratulated Cllr Lloyd on having done a “tremendous job” over the past two years as mayor.

“I have only done two years as a councillor and I have been very impressed by the huge amount of effort and work you have put in,” he told Cllr Lloyd. “You are worthy of a well-deserved retirement.”

Cllr Andrew Govier added: “Cllr Lloyd has represented Wellington at events across the county and further afield.

“Being mayor is a time-consuming role and everything Cllr Lloyd has done has been greatly appreciated.”

New mayor, Cllr Lithgow, said he hoped he would be able to carry on the work of his predecessor.

Cllr Lithgow was congratulated by councillors, members of the public and Sgt Jon O’Connor, of Wellington Police, on his election.

Cllr Andrew Govier, who has lived in Wellington all of his life, was unanimously voted in as the new Deputy mayor. He has previously served as mayor of Taunton Deane in 2003 and 2004 and as mayor of Wellington from 2010 to 2012.