AFTER 12 years Ken Pollock is standing down as the Worcestershire County councillor representing Tenbury.

Mr Pollock, who was elected in May 2009, will not be contesting the election in May.

A former television producer with the BBC, Mr Pollock has held a senior role with the county council where he has been portfolio holder for economic development.

He told Tenbury Town Council that the meeting where he gave his monthly report could be his last.

During his time representing Tenbury he has seen major developments like the building of the Tesco supermarket on the old cattle market site.

His time has been dogged by a long catalogue of problems with the refurbishment of the town centre that has taken much longer to complete than anticipated and has included delays to obtaining the correct materials, street furniture in the wrong place and complaints from traders and residents about loss of business and nuisance.

It was also delayed because Tesco, who have partly funded the work in the town centre, did not begin building the supermarket until much later than had been planned and the county council had to wait.

Eric Hudson, Mayor of Tenbury, thanked Mr Pollock for his work for the town that has included supporting local good causes from his annual allocation.

When asked about the decision not to contest the poll Mr Pollock declined to comment.

The notice of election ahead of this year’s County Council elections has been published this week.

It is available to view on the dedicated Elections pages of the County Council website. This means the county is now in a pre-election period up until polling day on Thursday, May 6.

”Publishing the notice of election means the pre-election period once again begins in earnest and the countdown to polling day on May 6 is on,” said Abraham Ezekiel, returning officer for Worcestershire County Council.