THE NEW mayor of Merthyr Tydfil says it means the world to her to be elected to the role.
Councillor Paula Layton was elected mayor of Merthyr Tydfil at the council’s annual general meeting on Wednesday, May 13, taking over from Councillor John Thomas as first citizen of the county borough.
Partner of 20 years and now wife of fellow Councillor Declan Sammon, she is mother to Louise and son-in-law Marc and grandmother to Jack and Emelia.
Born and raised in Merthyr Tydfil, she is a former customer service manager at T-Mobile and then became a chef at The Stables View Dowlais restaurant run by herself and Cllr Sammon.
Cllr Layton has been a Dowlais and Pant ward councillor since 2022 and has been a member of the neighbourhood services, countryside and planning committee and the governance and audit joint committee as well as the fly-tipping task and finish group.
She said: “I am a Merthyr Tydfil girl, born and bred, and am incredibly proud of my roots.
“It means the world to me to become mayor of somewhere that has such a special place in my heart.
“I will cherish this role and the responsibilities that come with it and do my upmost to represent the residents of Merthyr Tydfil.”
Cllr Layton’s consort for the municipal year 2025/26 is her husband, Cllr Sammon.
In her role as councillor, she is active within a variety of community groups such as Active Kids and Dowlais Community Action Group and regularly takes part in litter pick events.
She is also a big supporter of Becca’s Besties, a local wellbeing group run by women and for women.
The new mayor’s duties will include chairing full council meetings and representing the authority at formal and ceremonial occasions throughout the county borough, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
She will also welcome visitors to Merthyr Tydfil and attend and support events organised by local people and organisations.
Cllr Layton has chosen to support two local charities including Macmillan Cancer Support Merthyr which offers various services in the Merthyr Tydfil area, including a dedicated fundraising committee and a welfare benefits service. They provide information, support, and advice to individuals affected by cancer, their families, and carers.
The other charity is Central Beacons Mountain Rescue, a voluntary organisation based in Dowlais responsible for covering the central section of the Brecon Beacons including South Wales’ highest mountain, Pen y Fan, at 886m, Cribyn and Corn Du as well as the Ystradfellte waterfalls, Newport, Cardiff and the valleys.
The deputy mayor for the next year is Councillor David Isaac, whose consort will be his wife Deborah.
