FIGHTING to protect the town centre will be high on the agenda for Milford Haven’s newest town councillor, 19-year-old Rhys Evans.

The teenager - who narrowly missed out on a place on the council last October when he was beaten in a contest for the Hubberston ward by Cllr Rose Gray - will represent the town’s central ward, which covers the town centre, Shakespeare Avenue to Hamilton Terrace, the Rath, Milton Crescent and Pill.

He beat prospective UKIP candidate Simon Jenkins to the seat, claiming 68 per cent of the vote with 143 votes.

Rhys said he was thrilled to be elected as one of Pembrokeshire’s youngest councillors, and was excited about attending his first meeting this week (Thursday, July 9).

Asked what his priorities were, Rhys said he hoped to revive the relationship between the town council and its youth council, and make more of an effort to speak to local traders about their concerns.

As part of his election campaign, Rhys took four ‘pledges’ out onto the doorstep, which included aims to be a ‘an open, flexible and realistic town councillor’, to voice the views of all members of community, to put pressure on the county council to address issues such as street lighting and litter, and to ‘fight to sustain the profile of the town centre’ by working to make sure town centre traders are not ‘left in the dark’ as plans to expand the marina progress, and to attract more stalls to the town’s weekly street market.

To contact Rhys with your queries, email rhysevs12@gmail.com.