ALCESTER has a new mayor. Chris Gough was elected at last week's town council meeting and said he was looking forward to his second term of office - though he is already aware of how much the role has changed since he last wore the mayoral chain.

Mr Gough, who lives in Church Street with his wife, Ann, said: "It's more than 10 years since I was last mayor and it has changed so much.

"I understand now why the mayors of the past four years have said they were so busy.

"It's not just the things you do as mayor but the other things you get involved in as well.

"People expect you to be an oracle and to have an answer for everything.

"I have already had people asking me about things I have no control over or knowledge about."

Mr Gough added: "As mayor, you have to be careful what you do say as you are representing the town.

"I'm one of those people who makes off-the-cuff statements and that's not what I should be doing as mayor.

"The role has got a lot more formal and there's a lot more business involvement.

"We have to be more involved with Stratford District Council and the county council than we have been in the past.

"We are more important than we were. We do have a voice and it's important to us to make that voice heard.

"That's something I shall try to do, make Alcester heard."

Mr Gough has already broken new ground by formally appointing a chaplain for the year.

Baptist minister the Rev Alastair Aird will attend the next meeting and bless the council and councillors, as well as leading the Civic Service in July and other acts of ministry during the year.

"I have spoken to some of my fellow councillors and they are fine about it," said Mr Gough.

"People have to understand where I'm coming from and for me, that is a very important thing to do."

Mr Gough has succeeded Councillor John Hill and the new deputy mayor is Councillor Jim Kenyon.