End of Audi deal could leave Mayor without an official car

End of Audi deal could leave Mayor without an official car

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is considering options for the getting the borough’s First Citizen to engagements.

One of these is for the Mayor, who does not drive, to make his own way to functions.

The council has not advertised the position of the Mayor’s driver/attendant after Jerry Edey retired earlier this year.

“For the past few months we have been operating an interim arrangement with four drivers and it has worked,” said Cllr Horwood.

“Audi has made the decision that they cannot get any more publicity out of using the car.”

The Mayor, who will be in office until May, said discussions were taking place into his mode of transport and confirmed one option is for him to make his own way to engagements.

“That is not the option they are going to pursue immediately,” he said, adding wife Judy would drive him under this course of action.

In Tonbridge and Malling, Mayors use their own vehicles whenever possible, a private hire firm available as needed. 

Cllr Horwood said taxi arrangements, such as the use of a hire car company that supplies a driver, were also options.

A spokesman for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council said: “Audi have decided to discontinue their sponsorship arrangement which saw them provide a free car for use by the Mayor.

“We are obviously disappointed but have very much valued the partnership we have had over the past few years.

“We believe the arrangements will continue to provide an appropriate level of support.”

Share this article

Recommended articles

Search

Please enter a search term below.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter