TWO former Dolgellau mayors who resigned last year have had a change of heart and re-joined the town council.

At a town council meeting, five potential candidates stood before the council before members co-opted three new members in a secret ballot.

Two former mayors, Delwyn Evans and Ray Stubbs, both stood down from the town council in September last year, but stood before the meeting last week seeking re-appointment.

After counting the votes, the Dolgellau clerk Rhys Williams informed all present that Branwen Rhys Dafydd, Delwyn Evans and Ray Stubbs had been chosen to fill the vacant position.

Mrs Dafydd is involved in several initiatives, including the Meirionnydd Running Club, and is a key member of the Sesiwn Fawr organising team.

This will be her first stint on the council and she said she is “looking forward to doing her best for the community”.

Mr Stubbs and Evans were both well-known to the town council, having previously served four and eight years respectively.

Speaking when they quit last September, Mr Stubbs suggested that ‘serving the council wasn’t what I thought it would be — I’ve just had enough of it’. He also said: “What the town really needs is for the community to come together and vote us in properly.”

In his correspondence at the town council meeting, Mr Stubbs claimed he had been suffering health problems at the time and now feels able to serve the Dolgellau community “properly” again.

Speaking about his departure, Mr Evans had said he “wanted to focus his energies on giving those with disabilities a voice here in Wales”.

However, whilst reapplying for his position, the former mayor said he was “bored” with retirement and that it didn’t suit him.

The three new councillors will be eligible to take part in next month’s Dolgellau town council meeting.