A NEW chairman of Newport council planning committee has been appointed following the death of councillor Ron Jones.

Meanwhile it’s understood that Labour is due to call for an election in Cllr Jones’ former ward of Pill.

Beechwood Labour councillor Paul Hannon, who formerly acted as vice-chairman of the committee, will now serve as chairman of the council committee.

Committee member and fellow Labour councillor Paul Huntley, who serves Caerleon ward, is now vice-chairman. The appointments were confirmed at a meeting of Newport full council.

Former Pill Cllr Jones served as the city’s chairman of planning until his death in August.

Cllr Hannon told the Argus: “I take up the post with a heavy heart. I got on brilliantly with Ron, he was a great guy to work with. It won’t be the same without him here.

“The best tribute to him would be to carry on the work that he did on planning, to make it as welcoming as possible.”

It is understood that Newport Labour is set to call for an election in the Pill ward which Cllr Jones had served, after Newport council gave notice of vacancy for the office of Pillgwenlly councillor.

To call an election a request must be made in writing to the returning officer Will Godfrey by two electors within the city council area.

Cllr Jones died on August 27 - he had represented Pill for more than three decades. Hundreds attended his funeral at St Michael’s RC Church on September 5.

At the time of his death friend and fellow Labour councillor Allan Morris said Ron was “a great loss to the community and the people of Pill.”

Cllr Morris had said he was “the epitome of an excellent ward councillor, he was a true inspiration and a great friend.”