New Mayor sets targets
It will be second time around for Fakenham's new mayor who was elected unopposed at the May town council meeting.
Mike Coates previously wore the chain of office in 2005/2006 and is the longest-serving member of the council.
Outgoing Mayor Jayne Cubitt wished him every success and told fellow councillors how much she had enjoyed the past year and how proud she had been to represent the town on so many occasions.
Janet Holdom was elected Deputy Mayor. Mr Coates (65) is married to Violet who is the town’s senior registration officer. The couple live in North Park and their daughter Helene is a teacher at Earlham High School.
Over the coming year the new incumbent is looking forward to using his long experience in the best interests of the town.
“I had a problem with illness when I was last mayor and so had to be heavily reliant on my deputy at the time,” he said. “I’m much fitter now and have cut back on my other obligations.”
He had a number of priorities which he was keen to see brought forward.
“We must move ahead to get the Millennium Park sorted out for the benefit of everyone but especially the young people in the town,” he said.
“I’d also like to see the chapel in the Queen’s Road cemetery restored to more appropriate use. And the town could be made a lot tidier than it is at the moment.
“Although our cleaners do a good job there’s still a lot of rubbish thrown about the place. Help with this aspect is really part of being a good citizen.”
He regretted the number of empty premises in the town but was pleased to see that Woolworths had now acquired new tenants.
The old Learning Centre on Norwich Street was an eyesore whose windows could possibly be brightened up with some art work from the schools.
Although there had been complaints about parking charges by the district council, he couldn’t see much likelihood of change there as it was one of its main sources of income.
“Some people don’t realise, either, that we have more than 400 free parking spaces in Fakenham.”
Mr Coates retired in 2004 from his position as a senior county headteacher, a role which required him to take charge of various schools in the district.
He had formerly been head of Great Snoring Primary and for more than 30 years was a Special Constable attached to the local force.
He is a member of Rotary and supports the work of Natural Fakenham, a consortium of landowners, conservation and community groups helping to protect the Wensum valley.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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