Hessle last had its own (Urban District) Council in 1936 when it was amalgamated with Anlaby, Willerby, Kirk Ella and Cottingham to form Haltemprice UDC which itself amalgamated with 2 other districts councils in 1974 to form Beverley Borough Council.
After an interval of 50 years, 15 councillors were elected to a newly constituted Hessle Town Council on 13th March 1986. This followed an 8 year campaign by Hessle people to get its own council that was vehemently opposed by Beverley Borough.
This campaign was led by Bob Tress, the late Alex Cullen and others. Alex was one of the original 15 councillors. Friends and family paid for and placed a seat at the top of Prestongate in Alex’s memory.