2007 has seen St Ives firmly establish itself as the jewel in Huntingdonshire s crown. Significant inward investment into the town continues, which confirms the optimism and vibrancy across the town. While to some extent you make your own good fortune,

2007 has seen St Ives firmly establish itself as the jewel in Huntingdonshire's crown. Significant inward investment into the town continues, which confirms the optimism and vibrancy across the town.

While to some extent you make your own good fortune, I would like to think that an element of good planning and management has helped us obtain this envious position.

The town enjoys two different and distinct economies. Our daytime economy attracts people from afar to shop and see our beautiful riverside, and the in evening the town comes alive again with even more visitors to our restaurants, night life and special events.

This year's national river festival put the town on the map from a national perspective with many of the 30 thousand visitors promising to return and explore the area and St Ives in particular further next year.

All of St Ives's success is achieved by the community as a whole working together - commerce, voluntary groups, schools, churches, sports clubs and the St Ives Town and Huntingdonshire District Councils.

St Ives is particularly blessed with some very hard-working volunteers who ensure events such as the carnival, the regatta, the Christmas lights and the various festivals continue to showcase the town. We all share a common vision for the town, which I hope will see it continue to thrive and make us all feel proud to be part of our town

Alas, as always, there are things still to be done and problems to be solved. Not least the acute housing shortage in this area, particularly for our youngsters, who grow up all to quickly and need housing in the their community, because they are our future.

Speaking of youngsters, I was particularly thrilled to see Remembrance Sunday being supported in greater numbers year on year by our younger citizens. I know this gave great heart to our friends in the British Legion who see this act of remembrance as just as relevant today as it was over 60 years ago.

Councillor DEBORAH REYNOLDS

St Ives Town Mayor