Letter: Serving you was an honour

May I please take the opportunity to convey through your column my gratitude to the many residents who have supported me since I was first elected as a councillor to represent Dewsbury South in 2007. It has been a huge honour and a source of great pride to represent our local communities, to fight for their interests and those of individual residents, young and old, for the last eight years.

I fully accept the process of local democracy and I hope I can be as gracious in defeat as in victory. I genuinely wish my successor the best of fortune for the next four years and I hope they will work as hard as I believe I did for all our residents, irrespective of their political views. I always tried to rise above the politics when representing residents of Dewsbury.

I would also like to place on record my thanks to the many council officers who have helped me perform my role, along with the support I have received not only from Conservative colleagues but also from councillors of all political parties, not only in Dewsbury South but also in the wider Dewsbury area and across Kirklees.

I remain committed to my town – Dewsbury – and I hope to see the continued enhancement of our area for everyone.

May I take this opportunity to thank the many people who have supported and voted for me.

Salim Patel

Former Dewsbury South councillor

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