Town council rocked by seven resignations

FOUR MEMBERS LEFT SAY 'WE'LL JUST HAVE TO COPE'

- By GARETH LIGHTFOOT Local democracy reporter

A ROW-RIVEN town council has been shaken by seven of its councillors resigning at once.

The seven Yarm Town Council members said they had quit immediately on Thursday night as "their positions have become increasingly unproductive".

They also said they had "lost a very good town clerk", who herself resigned in May.

The shock councillors' resignations come days after one of their number apologised and retracted comments he made in a meeting almost two years ago prompting three of the remaining councillors to sue him.

However no specific mention was made of this in a statement issued by the outgoing council chairman.

Councillor John Coulson - who continues to represent Yarm as a member of Stockton Council - said: "It is with regret that the following councillors have resigned from Yarm Town Council on Thursday, June 5, with immediate effect.

"They feel they can no longer continue working in their voluntary roles, as, in their individual opinions, their positions have become increasingly unproductive.

"The councillors have worked extremely hard, despite the well-documented difficulties of Yarm Town Council. The councillors apologise to residents of Yarm who voted for them."