A LONG-SERVING councillor for Cheshire West and Chester Council died at the weekend. 

Cllr Lynn Clare MBE was elected to the borough council in 2008 before being re-elected in 2011 and again in 2015, representing Ellesmere Port.

She was served on a number of committees including Chairman of the Licencing Committee.

In addition, Cllr Clare was awarded an MBE in 2004 after establishing the charity Parents Against Drug Abuse (PADA) for which she worked for 15 years.

Flags at CWAC buildings in Winsford, Chester and Ellesmere Port were lowered to half mast today in honour of Cllr Clare. 

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Deputy Chief Executive for Places, Charlie Seward, paid tribute to Cllr Clare.

He said: “Everyone at the council is saddened by the tragic news of Cllr Clare’s death and we are all thinking of her and her family.

“Cllr Clare was dedicated to serving her local community and worked tirelessly to make a positive difference to the lives of the people she was elected to represent.

“Being awarded an MBE for the work she did to tackle the problem of drug abuse was recognition for the passion she had for helping others.

“Lynn will be dearly missed.”

Cllr Samantha Dixon, leader of the council, expressed her sadness at the passing of Cllr Clare.

She said: “Lynn was a marvellous woman, always positive; she laughed in the face of adversity and turned every negative into a success.

“I was privileged to put forward Lynn as Mayor of Ellesmere Port in 2015 and I cannot think of anyone who deserved the honour more, she was highly regarded, warmly respected, well-loved and passionate about Ellesmere Port.

“We have lost a strong, loyal dedicated and warm-hearted Councillor, and I have lost a dear friend.”

Cllr Lynn Riley, leader of the opposition also paid tribute to Cllr Clare.

Cllr Riley said: “Lynn will be sadly missed by many including her colleagues in the Conservative team, many of whom have known her since the creation of the Council in 2008.

“Lynn has been an example to us all and her love of Ellesmere Port and her passion for its local people has always been at the heart of everything she did.”

Independent Councillor Martin Barker, said: “I am really saddened to hear of the passing of Lynn.

"Lynn served on one of my committees and I have the utmost respect for her, it was always a pleasure to speak to her. She remained passionate about her constituents despite her illness, a very brave lady indeed, who will be sorely missed.”