A DROITWICH Spa councillor is stepping down after serving the town and its people for more than three decades.
Peter Pinfield has announced he will not be standing in the local government elections in May.
Since 1979 the popular and well-respected councillor has worked hard on behalf of Droitwich West residents.
Not only has he served his communities on a county level, but he has also done so on a district and town one too, bar a two year gap in the 80s.
During his time, he has served as a joint leader of Worcestershire County Council, being a chairman of social services, being Droitwich Town Council’s leader, a chairman of the Droitwich development committee and a champion for older people.
Mr Pinfield has played major parts in a vast array of projects including in the securing of the financial capital for the Droitwich canal project and in replacing the notorious flat roofs on the council housing stock on The Westlands.
He also had a lead role in attempting to save the Highfield Hospital, was a chairman of the Vax Adventure Playground and helped bring in the road safety measures near the high school, affectionately known as ‘the Pinfield bumps’.
Mr Pinfield now heads up Healthwatch, Worcestershire’s independent watchdog for all health and social care services, and also sits on a number of NHS organisations, representing patients, carers and service users.
Mr Pinfield said his responsibilities setting up Healthwatch was taking up more and more of his time, nationally and locally.
And, because of its independent role it was not proper for him to continue as a councillor so he was relinquishing his political status.
Mr Pinfield added it had been a honour and privilege to represent the people of Droitwich West over the years.
“I feel I have achieved a lot over those years and being that ‘red dot’ in that vast sea of blue has always been interesting.” he said.
“Both in and around Droitwich and the county there are a number of projects I have had the privilege to have been involved in and I hope I leave a sort of legacy which speaks for itself.
“In politics you clearly have differences of opinion but I have always found if you focus on the democracy and put your community first, things work out eventually.”
Mr Pinfield said he would like to thank all those who he had worked with over the years for their ‘support and friendship’.
