The new mayor for Wymondham has pledged to rebuild trust between residents and the town's council in the wake of the fiasco over the council's plans to sell a public green space for an Asda store.

Robert Savage, who was appointed unopposed at a council meeting on Tuesday, said he wanted the council to be more 'open' about its business and to use the internet and social networking sites to keep people informed of what was happening.

Members of the Wymondham Asks Why (WAW) action group, opposed to the sale of Kings Head Meadow for development, have criticised the council for not being open about the process that took place prior to the agreement of a conditional contract for the sale of the meadow to Asda.

The WAW group does not want the meadow to be developed as it is home to Wymondham Town FC and children's play facilities.

The council eventually decided to scrap the proposed sale at a public meeting at Ketts Park in February.

South Norfolk councillor Christopher Kemp has been asked to carry out an independent review into the circumstances surrounding the sale and the council has also set up a communications working group to look at how communications with residents can be improved.

Retired civil engineeer Mr Savage said: 'I think there is a feeling out there that things could have been done differently and some lessons could have been learned.

'Generally, the aim is to be more open about what is going on so people have the information on what is happening in Wymondham.'

dominic.bareham@archant.co.uk