A FORMER mayor of St Neots who campaigned for safer roads and more facilities for the town has stepped down as a councillor after 19 years of service. Pat Gregory, councillor for Eaton Ford Ward resigned from her position on the town and district councils

A FORMER mayor of St Neots who campaigned for safer roads and more facilities for the town has stepped down as a councillor after 19 years of service.

Pat Gregory, councillor for Eaton Ford Ward resigned from her position on the town and district councils on September 27.

Pat, whose youngest son Michael, 20, has Asperger's syndrome, told The Hunts Post she felt it was time to give something back to her family.

Pat moved to Lincolnshire with her husband, John, in May and has been staying with friends in St Neots so she could continue to serve her ward.

The mother of three added: "People asked me to stay on as they needed my help, and also I decided to commute for a few months to see if projects I had started as a councillor could be finished before stepping down."

Her projects included campaigning for a pelican crossing on Crosshall Road, and providing play equipment in Weston Court. She also spent three years working to get a bus shelter erected in Eaton Socon and was working towards getting money to upgrade the Riverside car park toilets, reinstate the town's outdoor swimming pool, and increase traffic calming measures in the Eatons.

"I can look back over the years, and I know that I made a difference to people's lives, and I can say this because people have told me. I can also see physical things in place, like the pelican crossing and flashing lights on Crosshall Road, homeless families in their new homes, and the elderly being taken care of."

As well as caring for the local community, Pat also converted her garage into an animal rescue centre, looking after up to 60 animals.

There are no plans to take it easy as Pat plans to volunteer to work with the elderly in Lincolnshire. However, she knows she won't be able to stay away from St Neots.

She added: "I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped me over the years, and for all those who have given me support, the officers of Huntingdonshire District Council, the officers of the town council, and many members of all parties.