TRIBUTES are pouring in following news of the death of stalwart councillor Richard Welch. Richard, 67, was ward councillor for the Penyghent ward for Craven District Council, while also being a member of North Yorkshire County Council and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. He died peacefully yesterday in Airedale Hospital after a short illness. One of his sons, Ian, said his dad loved being a councillor and worked hard for the residents in his ward because he cared so much for the district. He was also a great dad and grandad and we will all miss him. One council colleague who had known him for many years at district and county level, as well as with the national park, was Cllr Robert Heseltine.