A FORMER Bude-Stratton town councillor has spoken of her frustration at criticism and ‘malicious’ requests to the authority from some members of the public.

Lesley Moores stepped down from the council on December 4 after more than a decade as a member. She made the comments in a statement issued to the Post, following a meeting of the full council last Friday.

In it she said: “For some time I have been frustrated at its [the council’s] lack of ability to carry out important resolutions to improve certain aspects of the local environment. This is because of long term sickness among officers, and the fact that the town clerk has to spend hours dealing with malicious ‘Freedom of Information’ requests.”

She said she was tired of people saying the council was corrupt. “There has never been any evidence to substantiate this offensive slander. I have followed my solicitor’s advice, for many years, to ‘rise above it’.

“The councillors who attend meetings regularly, as I did, give up hours of their time. They do their very best, sometimes agonising over decisions for very little, or no, thanks at all.

“During the years I served as a councillor I am proud to have played a part in the completion of several capital projects for the benefit of all, the refurbishment of the Castle for example, a replacement cricket pavilion, craft units at the wharf, and a brand new workshop for the team of outdoor staff.”

She expressed thanks to those who elected her, the ‘patient assistance of office staff, and the diligence of the outdoor and maintenance workers, who do a splendid job keeping the public areas to a high standard’, and to her fellow councillors.

“Having lived in Bude for 68 years, the area remains important to me and I shall be attending council meetings as a member of the public.”

The council appointed new members to three committees at the meeting last Thursday. The three vacant positions on the properties committee, staffing committee and heritage and culture committee arose by the resignation of Mrs Moores.

Cllr Peter Moores filled the role on the properties committee with all councillors in favour. He said: “I go along to those meetings anyway so I’m happy to do it as long as I’m allowed to be on more than two committees.”

Cllr Heather Partridge was appointed to the staffing committee with a majority of the councillors in favour.

The final position discussed, for a seat on the heritage and culture committee, saw Cllr Bryson appointed.