Councillor Steps Down

A STALWART of the local politics in Leigh and Southend is stepping down after 35 years as a councillor.
Peter Wexham served as a Liberal Democrat councillor for Southend Council from 1991 onwards, working primarily on environmental and foreshore issues.
Among his key achievements in office were helping to secure the creation of Jubilee Beach in Southend and working in partnership with Anglian Water during the 1990s to extend the outfall and introduce secondary treatment works, as part of efforts to tackle sewage pollution affecting Southend’s beaches and waters.
For the past two years, Peter has served as an independent councillor for Elms Ward on Leigh Town Council, helping to consolidate the many years he has spent shaping the future of the Old Leigh town port.
A fisherman for many years, he brought his expertise and knowledge of the estuary to plans for the projected port redevelopment, which is set to begin in October this year.
He explained: “I’ve been fighting to get this done for about 25 years, meeting with
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) and later Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), as well as fisheries officers, government ministers, Natural England, and finally securing FLAG (Fisheries Local Action Groups) funding to investigate what improvements needed to be made.”
The £14.8 million investment, made up with a funding boost from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, is expected to help future-proof the key local industry for generations to come.
He announced his resignation from the post in early February, saying: “It’s time to step down and make time for me and Maureen to spend more time together. I’m getting older and there comes a time when you’ve got to step back.”
Peter added that his resignation will allow a by-election for his ward seat to take place at the same time as the upcoming May local elections.
Picture: Peter Wexham
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