IT is third time lucky for Lydney councillor James Bevan when he was sworn in as the new chairman of the Forest of Dean District Council.

Cllr Bevan had been the vice-chairman to last year’s woman in charge, Cllr Marilyn Smart, but was elected at the authority’s annual meeting.

An ‘honoured’ Cllr Bevan said: “I have had to stand back twice now from the chairmanship in previous years and I am very pleased to be where I am.”

It took a little time for him to get into the swing of running the council once he had put the chains on and admitted: “It was a bit nerve-wracking to start off although I’ve done it before but we got into tune.”

Yet he knows there is work to be done this year. He added: “I think some of the members realise there is a lot to do in the council, probably more than they thought, and it does take a lot of your time.”

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK’S FORESTER