Ulverston Town Council swore in a new mayor last night.


Helen Irving is ‘Ulverston born and bred’ and spoke of her pride at becoming the leader of the town she loves.


It has been a meteoric rise for the Conservative, who still works as a cleaner and cook at Sandside Lodge Special School, and has done for the past 18 years.


With growing public disatisfaction about the quality of roads in the town and extensive opposition to the proposed on-street parking charges she faces some tough tasks early in her tenure, but she is looking forward to the challenge.


“I just want to do things for the town,” said Mayor Irving, who also covers the Ulverston North Ward for South Lakeland District Council.


“I want to raise money for Ulverston charities like the Inshore Rescue and the town band.

"I’m also very proud to be a part of the World War One memorial which is very improtant for the area.

"We’re not just thinking about the ones who lost their lives but the ones who were hurt as well.”

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Mayor Irving, of Garden Terrace, faces a strong and vocal Labour opposition during her year at the helm but she is confident of keeping the peace and ensuring Ulverston’s affairs are handled effectively.


She said: “I got on well with the last Labour mayor, Judith Pickthall. Politics doesn’t come into it, we should all get along because we love Ulverston.”