TOWN councillors have agreed to endorse public views that a housing scheme should be named in memory of a popular and well respected councillor.

Buckley's former Health Centre in Padeswood Road is to be developed into 24 apartments.

A meeting of Buckley Town Council heart last week that Flintshire Council had put forward two potential names for the scheme - Llys Hampson and Llys Westlea.

The first suggestion, correspondence from Flintshire Council confirmed, relates to much respected Bistre West ward councillor Ron Hampson who died in August last year at the age of 79.

The second relates to the former name of Westwood Infants School.

Cllr Dennis Hutchinson suggested the name Llys Hampson should be endorsed.

He told the meeting: "Ron Hampson was a great friend of Buckley and he was a great advocate of fair play in the town."

Cllr Carolyn Preece paid tribute to cllr Hampson and described his popularity in the town.

She said: "Ron was special - you couldn't make another.

"You couldn't move in church, it was amazing. I think this is a great way we can honour him."

The meeting heard Flintshire Council's request was the first of its kind for a development in Buckley and that the majority of members of the public who had made their views known had been in favour of Llys Hampson.

Martin Wright, clerk to the council, clarified that it was not the policy of the town council to recommend councillors' names for such projects, but that members were being asked whether or not they endorsed the public's view that the scheme should be named Llys Hampson.

Following the debate the council voted to endorse the name.

After the meeting Cllr Hutchinson told the Leader: "Ron and I had a bond and a friendship that stretched more than 30 years.

"My biggest accolade was to be invited by hos family to see him in hospital the day he died - and it was a great honour to be asked to be a bearer at his funeral.

"He always supported the underdog and he was noone's fool."