COUNCILLOR surgeries won’t be reinstated in Bude for the time being after councillors voted to scrap them due to a lack of attendees.

Talking at Bude-Stratton Town Council’s latest full meeting on Thursday, September 6, councillors debated whether they should continue with the scheme, which took place once a month on Saturday mornings but has failed to spark the public’s imagination.

Cllr Paul Tilzey said: “I tried to support it but they’re at an anti-social time. If the public want to talk to us, they can talk to us on Thursdays.”

Cllr Julia Bryson said: “I wanted them to take off but I have my doubts whether they ever will.”

Cllr Lea Deely was in a forthright mood, saying: “I went to six last year and if it wasn’t for Lucille (Opie), they would have been a waste of time. We often spent two hours doing nothing.

“But if we suspend them, we need to do more to make sure we don’t scare people off from coming to council meetings.”

Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Bude, Peter La Broy, said: “I attempted to make most of them but I didn’t. However, I was surprised at the lack of people attending.

“They definitely have value and I’ve been thinking about it, a less formal environment may work better. We could go to a café or something. If it was less formal, to the public that would be better.”

Cllr Simon Browning said: “It’s an opportunity to look at the whole strategy. They haven’t really been missed.”

Town mayor, Bob Willingham believes that an informal discussion would be more beneficial.

He said: “From my point of view; people stick to informal. It would be a good way to go.”

Cllr Peter Moores said: “In my opinion they’re a complete waste of time. You can talk to people in person. I vote for them not to be reinstated.”

Cllr Moores then proposed that they shouldn’t be reinstated.

All of the councillors were in favour apart from Cllr La Broy and Cllr Francis Richens.