THE new chairman of Cheshire West and Chester Council will be environment executive member Neil Ritchie.

Councillor Ritchie, a member for Broxton, was nominated at the Council meeting and will take over from Councillor John Ebo on May 13.

A former Chester City Councillor from 1996 as well as present Parish Councillor for Tilston since 1995, Councillor Ritchie was the former head of Cheshire County Council’s Architectural and Building Service.

He was the Executive Member for Environment on Chester City Council and was also a member of its Planning, Development, Highways and Environment Committees

Born in Hertfordshire, he was brought up in Lymm and qualified as an architect at Manchester University. Councillor Ritchie’s first post was in Northamptonshire and rose to the post of Chief Architect at Solihull Council where he also qualified as a Town Planner.

“My background in my working life and as a Councillor prepared me for my current role within Cheshire West and Chester Council” said Councillor Ritchie.

“So many aspects are similar including local planning, architecture, highways and waste disposal.

“Now I am looking forward very much to taking over the role of Chairman – very much different however some links will stay the same.

“I want to applaud the hard work done by voluntary organisations across the Borough and raise their profile as well as meet as many people as possible.

“And I am also looking forward to especially making contact with groups undertaking environmental activities. I know from experience that this includes a large group of people, involved in very different projects.

“All in all I want to ‘tap into’ the very lifeblood of the Borough.”

Councillor Ritchie has been married to his wife Kathie for 44 years and they have two daughters, one son and five grandchildren.

The new Deputy Chairman will be Eddisbury Councillor Barbara Roberts who was a Chester City Councillor for 14 years.

PHOTO CAPTION:

TAKING OVER: Neil Ritchie and Barbara Roberts will take over as chairman and deputy chairman of Cheshire West & Chester Council on May 13. PCH ZZ010310CHAIRMAN