The MAYOR of Bury, who recently announced he will be stepping down as Prestwich’s longest serving councillor, will be standing as a representative in Cumbria in the local elections.

Liberal Democrats councillor Tim Pickstone, who has served Holyrood for more than 20 years, is a candidate for Longtown in Cumbria in the elections on Thursday, May 5.

He was elected as a Liberal Democrat councillor for Holyrood in 2000 and has remained in the role since then.

In January, Cllr Pickstone said he would be stepping down at the local elections.

The councillor was elected as mayor in May 2020 and is currently serving his second year in the role amid the disruption caused by the pandemic.

Bury Times:

Bury mayor, Cllr Tim Pickstone, and his consort Wayne Burrows

Cllr Pickstone said: “I’ve loved living in Prestwich for over 30 years, and it has been such an honour to represent my local area of Holyrood ward as a councillor for 22 years, and to have achieved so much working together with local residents.

“Like many people, we have always wanted to move to the countryside if we could.

“When I found out there was no Liberal Democrat candidate where we found a house, it wasn’t long before I was asked to put my name forward.

"It has been interesting campaigning in a different area.

"As everyone knows, I’ve always made sure that my duties as a Holyrood Ward councillor, and mayor of Bury, are delivered fully and to the best of my ability."

Ahead of the elections in May, it was announced that Michael Hankey will stand as the next Lib Dem candidate for Holyrood.

Cllr Pickstone added: “It is sad standing down from being a Holyrood Ward councillor after all these years, but I know my colleagues Steve Wright, Cristina Tegolo and Mike Hankey make a great team who will hopefully be working hard for local residents for many years to come."

The Longtown ward will fall under the newly created Cumberland Council, one of two new unitary authorities set to replace seven district and county councils in Cumbria.