Five resign from Fremington Parish Council

FIVE councillors including the chairman and vice chairman have handed in their resignations to Fremington Parish Council. On Tuesday David Jury presented his letter of resignation to the parish clerk and this morning (Thursday) he was followed by vice cha

FIVE councillors including the chairman and vice chairman have handed in their resignations to Fremington Parish Council.

On Tuesday David Jury presented his letter of resignation to the parish clerk and this morning (Thursday) he was followed by vice chairman Carolyn Bennett and councillors Charlie Piper, Linda Tancock and Brian Hockin.

It is understood none of the letters have given any reason for the decisions.

Parish clerk Clare Dalley said she could confirm they had received the letters, but they would not be recognised by the council until they were presented to a council meeting, the next of which was one October 11.

The resignations follow in the wake of Fremington Quay Caf� and heritage centre being wrecked by vandalism at the weekend.

Carolyn Bennett and Charlie Piper both told the Gazette they had no comment to make at this time, but that a statement would be made in due course.

Councillor John Gill claimed the resignations were "a stage managed political stunt."

"The rest of us are going to stick it out and get this mess sorted," he said.

"We have work to do. If they want to quit because the going is getting tough, it just makes more work for those who remain behind."

Mr Gill said a quorum - the minimum number of members needed - for a meeting of the parish council was five.