A TOWN councillor has resigned due to the behaviour of some other his fellow councillors.

Stanley Keyworth stepped down on Monday, March 20, and is the second councillor to resign from Upton Town Council in the last seven days.

Catherine Badham also resigned on Tuesday, March 14, due to family and work commitments.

Mr Keyworth said: "As we all know, our town was voted by the Sunday Times as one of the best places to live within the UK.

"It is my belief that some members of the town council do not promote or encourage this in the way that they currently conduct themselves.

"These same members of the town council consistently look backwards and regurgitate old issues."

He added that the council fails to engage with the community and particularly with young people.

"Whilst serving on the town council, I was shocked by the lack of public turnout at our meetings, including our annual general meeting," he added.

"What this tells me is that the very people we are there to serve have little or no faith in the town council.

"When I joined almost a year ago I said we need people turning up to the meetings but they seemed frightened."

Mr Keyworth, who has been a chief executive of several companies, said that if the council was a business it would be in dire straits.

He said that the chamber needs new blood as many members have remained in their posts for years and are not open to change.

"Perhaps it would be a good idea if all councillors were to stand down after two years of serving on the council and put themselves forward for re-election through a public vote," he said.

Mr Keyworth added that his experience on the council had been interesting but also incredibly frustrating.

He also thanked residents for the outpouring of support he has received since announcing his decision to resign.

"Residents have been saying 'sorry to hear it' and 'you were right, they don't keep in touch'," he said.

Cllr Tim Dance, the Mayor of Upton, said: "I think Upton Town Council is an absolute shambles.

"I don't feel particularly proud to be Mayor of this council. There is so much bickering going on.

"There's councillors on the council for their own personal kudos. There needs to be a shake up. It needs new blood.

"Losing Catherine last week and now Stan, it's a sad loss to the town."

Cllr Dance said Mr Keyworth was an asset to the council due to his business acumen.

“The problem with the council is it’s the same ground which keeps getting covered," he added.

“I have been there for six years. We have had councillors come in with great ideas but they are not listened to.”

Cllr Peter Webb said he was ‘very disturbed’ at the Mayor’s response to Mr Keyworth’s resignation and said it was his job to ensure the council is run correctly.

“I have all sorts of reservations about Stan’s letter and that the council is totally run by people who always look backwards and never do anything for the town.

“We do do stuff for the town and we take being councillors very seriously. We don’t do it for our own aggrandisement.”

A notification of the resignation will now be put on the council's noticeboard at Memorial Hall, in Old Street, Upton, and an application form for the vacancy will be available in about two weeks’ time.

The notice of Catherine Badham's resignation is already on the noticeboard and residents have until Tuesday, April 4, to request an election for the vacancy.

Applicants will be co-opted if there are under 10 requests for an election.