A CALL from resigning town councillor Liz Harvey for other members to follow her lead and stand for re-election appears to have been disregarded.
Coun Harvey stood down shortly before last Thursday’s full council meeting, stating her intent to put her herself forward for election should the opportunity arise.
Couns Maurice Harding and Mary Cooper had resigned earlier for personal reasons.
But as of yesterday (Thursday) there had been no further resignations.
Ledbury’s mayor Allen Conway said that he had no intention of resigning because he had been “duly elected” by the public three years ago, when there were vacancies on the town council and nine candidates stood.
Individual vacancies on the town council have been filled by public elections in recent years, but there has not been a full town council election for almost two decades.
Calling on town councillors to consider following her example, Coun Harvey said it was “a decision for the conscience of each councillor”.
But former mayor Keith Francis, speaking after the meeting, said: “I will not be bullied into resigning.”
And Coun Bob Barnes said: “It is an insult to the people who have put themselves forward as volunteers for the benefit of the town. We all put our names forward last year to Herefordshire Council’s electoral officer. Those people were duly elected in an uncontested election, which was a decision of the electoral officer.”
Coun Harvey remains a Herefordshire councillor and is also chairman of the Ledbury Parish Plan steering group.
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