THE mayor of Ringwood has announced she will be retiring from politics.

Cllr Barbara Woodifield told a meeting of Ringwood Town Council last Wednesday that she will be standing down from her role on both the town council and New Forest District Council at the end of this term.

She said: “I will be retiring from politics completely from the town council and district council due to family and business commitments. It’s all good from my point of view.”

Cllr Woodifield has been a councillor for eight years on both the town and district council.

In her final year she has led the council when it successfully obtained funds to start work on the new youth facility called The Place, and has led on the decision to rebuild a new skatepark for young people.

During her tenure the council have also committed to buying more land for sports use and to provide an “all weather” pitch to allow more sport to be played within the limited space available.

Cllr Woodifield, addressing her fellow councillors, added: “Personally and professionally I wish you all very well for next term.”