Message From the Mayor

Published: 14 July 2026

𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿 - 𝘛ℎ𝘪𝑠 𝑚𝘰𝑛𝘵ℎ'𝑠 𝑟𝘰𝑢𝘯𝑑𝘶𝑝!

Another busy month has passed, representing our town at a wide range of meetings, events and community activities.

I was pleased to hold my first Mayor's Surgery at the Guildhall, providing residents with an opportunity to raise concerns, ask questions and discuss the issues that matter most to them. I look forward to holding further surgeries throughout the year, including some daytime sessions, and meeting even more members of our community.

I also attended the Axminster Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting. I would like to thank the Chamber members for hosting what was an important, though challenging, meeting. There were valuable discussions around footfall, the future of our town centre, and the important role of retail, hospitality, and tourism in Axminster. It is important to recognise that Axminster is not alone in facing these challenges; towns across the country are navigating similar issues.

I look forward to working collaboratively with businesses, organisations, and residents to find solutions that benefit everyone. It would be fantastic to see more businesses and members of our community becoming involved with the Chamber of Commerce, helping to organise events, increase footfall and support local initiatives, rather than relying on a small group of volunteers to carry the workload. We all lead busy lives, but even giving an hour or two each month could make a significant difference and help deliver positive outcomes for the whole town.

I was delighted to assist Karen at Nourish in preparing 133 meals for distribution across our community:

65 portions of Sweet & Sour Chicken

68 portions of Bacon, Feta and Spinach Pasta

Total meals prepared: 133

Total food cost: £124.70

Nourish supports around 100 people every week, and these meals help ensure residents have access to nutritious food and practical support when they need it most.

It was also a pleasure to attend the Axminster Community Shed Open Day. It was a fantastic event for Axminster Tools, Axminster Community Shed and all the organisations that took part.

Huge congratulations to Axminster Community Shed on receiving the 𝗨𝗞 𝗠𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱. This was a well-deserved recognition of the positive impact the Shed has on so many lives within our community.

A community shed is about far more than tools and projects. It provides purpose, friendship, support and opportunities for people to learn new skills, share experiences and give something back to their community. Here in Axminster, we are incredibly fortunate to have such an asset supported by a dedicated and passionate team of volunteers.

During the month, I visited Devon County Hall to attend presentations on Local Government Reorganisation. The discussions highlighted the significant changes that may take place across local government in the coming months and the potential implications for councils such as Axminster Town Council. It was a valuable opportunity to gain a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead.

𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗱:

Attending the Axminster Vehicle Extravaganza, which raised funds for Axminster Carnival and Light Up Axminster - two fantastic organisations that contribute so much to our town.

Attending the Axminster Skate Park Jam. The skate park is an invaluable community space for people of all ages. While some may see it as simply a place for young people to skate, it is supported by a fantastic team of adult volunteers who engage with young people and deliver incredibly important youth work.

Attending the Raising of the Glove ceremony on Minster Green alongside our District and County Councillors, the Rector, the Town Crier and many other representatives from across our community.

Attending the Axminster Community Safety Group, hosted at Pippins, where valuable discussions took place with EDDC, and the local policing team. We discussed concerns around recent incidents in the town, community safety, and the importance of ensuring residents feel safe. We also raised questions regarding the apparent lack of consequences for those committing crimes or engaging in anti-social behaviour.

Supporting the decision to host a further three Gate to Plate events on Minster Green in partnership with Eats Festivals.

I visited Pippins to meet members of the Gentle Wednesday Club, a wonderful group that comes together each week to socialise in a relaxed and welcoming environment. For many of its members, busy or crowded settings can be overwhelming, so having a space where they feel comfortable is incredibly important. A couple of members were keen to discuss opportunities to earn some extra income and wanted to speak with someone of a similar age who runs a local business. It was a real pleasure to share my experiences, answer their questions, and explore some ideas with them.

Attending the Operations Committee Meeting.

Attending the Strategy and Finance Committee Meeting, where I was elected as Chair of the Committee.

Chairing the July meeting of the Full Town Council

Access to cash remains an important issue for many residents and businesses. Following concerns raised locally, I wrote to LINK, the organisation responsible for the UK's cash access network, to campaign for the installation of an external cash machine at the Axminster Banking Hub. Such a facility would provide access to cash outside of the Hub's opening hours and help ensure residents and visitors can access essential banking services whenever they need them. I am communicating with them, the Banking Hub and Cash Access UK to try to get a resolution.

I am also working with the Guildhall Manager and the Town Clerk to explore a range of additional events and entertainment opportunities at the Guildhall. This includes the possibility of showing more recent films and hosting National Theatre screenings. We hope to offer events of this nature soon and further enhance the Guildhall's role as a thriving community venue.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to speak with me, attend meetings, volunteer at community events, or support the many organisations that make Axminster such a special place to live. Our town is fortunate to have so many dedicated people who generously give their time to improve the lives of others.

As always, if there is anything I can help with, or if you would like to raise a local issue, please do not hesitate to get in touch or come along to one of my future “Meet the Mayor” surgeries.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁.