David Harding is new Mayor

ULSTER Unionst councillor David Harding is the new Mayor of Coleraine.

Councillor Harding took the chain of office last night (Monday) at the Council’s Annual General Meeting held in Cloonavin.

Speaking to The Times, the Ulster Unionist man, who is originally from Scotland, said he was looking forward to the year ahead.

“I am really humbled to become the Mayor,” he said.

“I’ve been living here in the Coleraine area for 30 years, I love it, and to be honest I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.”

Councillor Harding, who has only been a councillor for the past three-and-a-half years, says that he is looking forward to the busy year ahead.

He says one of his targets is to promote the Borough of Coleraine.

“As well as taking on the all the Mayoral events, I really want to promote this beautiful area with a view to attracting business and investment.”

As a farm animal vet, councillor Harding says it will be a huge ‘juggling act’ doing both his own job and that of the Mayor, but that he is looking forward to working closely with his Deputy, the DUP’s Mark Fielding.

“I get only really well with Mark, and I am looking forward to working with him in my year in office.”

He added: “We’re right in the middle of the Coleraine 400 celebrations, this gives us another unique opportunity to sell this wonderful town,” said the new Mayor.

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