COLUMN: Future bright for Stags, by Coun Martin Wright

Overall turnout was 28.17 per cent, disappointingly low but about average for a local election in Mansfield.

The Mansfield Independent Forum contested four seats, all of our candidates were successful and will now go on to represent Mansfield residents at County Hall for the next four years.

Mansfield is yet again hitting the headlines in the sporting world. September will see the start of the Nottinghamshire stage of the Tour of Britain cycle race in our town. Many top riders from Britain and Europe will go head to head through Nottinghamshire towns and countryside with the stage finally finishing in Newark, a distance of 175 kilometres. The event will be exciting to watch from so many different vantage points and many local businesses will benefit from the increased number of visitors to Mansfield and the county.

The Chad last week highlighted the state of Mansfield’s and Nottinghamshire’s roads, potholes are a problem for all and much remedial work is needed to be completed by the county council to make the county’s roads safe and cycle friendly for this prestigious event.

Last Saturday saw the completion of the EFL League Two season with Mansfield Town finishing in 12th position. There will be disappointment for some but who would have thought, last November, that the Stags would have been in a challenging position to reach the play-offs come May? Manager Steve Evans has transformed the team and but for the lack of a regular goal scorer would, I feel, have probably achieved at least the play-offs this season.

The 2017-18 season is only just around the corner, I cannot wait to see what transpires over the summer months. If you are thinking about getting a season ticket, stop thinking go and get it, 2017-18 is going to be an exciting season.