THIS next year is going to be breakthrough one for St Neots, according to the town s re-elected mayor and the new deputy mayor. Last week the town council re-appointed Councillor Bob Eaton as mayor, for his second year, while Cllr Alan Cummings replaced C

THIS next year is going to be breakthrough one for St Neots, according to the town's re-elected mayor and the new deputy mayor.

Last week the town council re-appointed Councillor Bob Eaton as mayor, for his second year, while Cllr Alan Cummings replaced Cllr Fiona Birks as the deputy.

Cllr Eaton told The Hunts Post his new term in office will focus on bringing facilities to the expanding town.

"We hope that 2008-09 is the year that breakthroughs can be made," he said. "St Neots is growing and in the next decade or so the population will increase by up to a third. The big issue for us all is to provide the town with the facilities that it needs."

He added: "My attitude is that I am here for the people of St Neots and I will continue to work hard for the town and although I won't always succeed I will always continue trying."

Cllr Eaton said work will continue on projects such as a cinema, an outdoor swimming pool, the Eatons Community Centre and a boxing club for the town.

Another key priority would be improved youth facilities and working with Cambridgeshire County Council to turn the Bargroves Centre into a youth centre, he said.

"I will strive to bring to fruition the facilities that the people of this town deserve."

New deputy mayor, Cllr Alan Cummings, who has lived in St Neots for 15 and is a father of six, agreed: "My vision for St Neots is to work with the mayor and all the town councillors to bring a cinema, a swimming pool and the Eatons Community Centre to the town and also to work hard to hopefully provide more facilities for the youth of the town as there are many youths that have nowhere to go except for the streets."

He added: "Whatever happens about the proposed cinema, outdoor swimming pool or the Bargroves Centre I hope the people of St Neots realise that nothing can happen overnight. It all takes time, some may think it's us taking too much time but I can assure them that the mayor, myself and all the town councillors are doing their best to bring all these things to the town as soon as we can."

During his last term as mayor, Cllr Eaton raised £7,500 through civic events, which included a ball and golf day. The money was split between his chosen charities which included Marie Curie Cancer Research, Riverside Theatre Group and West Anglia's Young Carers.

INFORMATION: Contact St Neots Town Council on 01480 388911.