FOUR parish councillors have resigned in support of the council’s clerk, who also resigned, saying he felt "undermined" by "certain residents of the parish".

According to minutes taken from the Eccleshill and Waterside Parish Council meeting of February 14, councillors Andy Green, Lesley Shaw, Silvia Robinson and chairman Matthew Jackson resigned in an outpouring of support for Rory Needham, the parish clerk.

Mr Needham said he had found it “very hard” to carry out his work as clerk, citing “abuse and falsehoods” within his place of work.

He told councillors: “I would like to inform councillors and members of the public that this will be my last Parish Council meeting, as I have submitted my resignation to the chairman.

“Since July 2021, I have found it very hard to carry out my work as a clerk due to certain residents of the parish trying to undermine the work of the Parish Council.

“I am sure that those people would not have put up with the abuse and falsehoods at their own place of work.

“At the end of the day, the Parish Council was my place of work and should have been treated as such.

“I will be contacting all interested parties to tell them of my resignation and from this month I will not carry out any further work for the Parish Council.

“If there are any future remarks from those individuals, I will seek legal advice and sue for defamation of character.

“I regret that I have had to finish in such circumstances but due to a minority of individuals, I do not see why I should carry on and risk my health and wellbeing.”

“Can I say for most of my employment, which commenced in December 2012, I have enjoyed working as clerk and financial responsible officer for the parish.

“I would also like to thank the councillors for all their help and support when my wife died of cancer in 2019.”

Mr Jackson, announcing his own resignation, said: “When we came to Waterside and Eccleshill 15-years ago, we were blown away by the beauty of the surroundings and setting.

“So close to Darwen but also so far from what seemed anywhere. Slowly, it became apparent that not only was the place special but also has the sense of community that was something we took to our hearts, and I was inspired by the true efforts of some of the residents to make sure the place was not only kept tidy, and facilities were made available, but to create an air of pride.

“Residents such as our very own Silvia, Mick and Pat Cooper, Derek Hughes and Marion, all these people just rolled up their sleeves and got on with the job.

“Unfortunately, it seems that Waterside and Eccleshill has lost some of that Dunkirk spirit and sense of pride and there’s a distinct whiff of ugliness.

“People whispering in the shadows, back biting, saying hello to your face but then writing snide letters of complaint behind the shifty protective veil of their own curtains.

“Spoilers whose only goal in life is to ruin the good, honest efforts of others by scurrying around like rats in the night, looking for something to scowl and complain about.

“People who think it's OK to write libellous claims about good honest decent people. Not having the guts to approach others and chat to them like a good honest decent person would.

“They complain loudly in packs that there’s no notices of when meetings are to take place, and when this is resolved, never turn up anyway.

“Everyone on this Parish Council, in my eyes, are people who should be praised, not bullied, they should be encouraged, not harassed, and they should be treated in a way befitting of anyone who volunteers to take up their own time in order to create a place where everyone can feel proud of where they live.

“Instead, there is disappointment, sadness and indeed anger.

“Certain residents relentlessly fire off vexatious emails. Email after email. What’s the procedure for this? What’s the procedure for that? What’s the costing of this? What’s the costing of that? Spurring each other on by holding court in the back streets and the shadows, just turn up to our meets.

“Be a decent person. Unfortunately, they won’t… because they are not decent people, they are small-minded spoilers, blinkered by their own self-importance.

“It’s not coincidental that having a few quid in the pot tempts out all sorts from the woodwork, which is very sad.

“Many of the inspiring residents whom mentioned previously would also be sad that this ugliness has crept into their community and the ones who are not with us, would be spinning in their graves.

“So, when you hear the news that follows this meeting, and you’re high fiving, thinking you’ve brought down a government with your narrow-minded persistent bellyaching, just to be clear, all you’ve done is brought down the integrity of what was once a good community.

“The forethought that I would have to sit shoulder to shoulder with these types if I stayed on as chair makes me feel sick to my stomach, so for that reason I resign.”

Ms Robinson said: “I have served as a parish councillor for numerous years. The purpose of being in this role and on the Parish Council Committee is to serve the Eccleshill and Waterside Community.

“Over recent years, I have found this to be increasingly difficult due to a number of factors that I do not agree with.

“I do not believe that personal feelings towards committee members, members of the community or other representatives have a place within the Parish Council.

“I do not believe that politics has a place within the Parish Council. It is also more apparent that people choose to go direct to the councillors rather than approaching a Parish Councillor for matters that could have been dealt with by the Parish.

“Lastly, I have found it upsetting and distressing that non-committee members who reside within the community have found it acceptable to pinpoint the Parish Council clerk and question the role that he has played.

“Personally, I would like to thank Rory for his commitment over the years. I hope that the Parish Council moves forward and remembers that the purpose is to serve all residents of Eccleshill and Waterside.

“With this closing statement I hand in my notice to stop serving as a parish councillor.”

Speaking on behalf of herself and Mr Green, Ms Shaw said: “In our time on the Parish Council, we have seen various councillors come and go.

“Rory, the parish clerk, has remained steadfast. Our guiding hand and nucleus of the council.

“In the past six months, there have been various e-mails sent. Although Rory has provided all the relevant information requested, it has become very clear these people will never be satisfied and it is with this in mind that both myself and Andy have made the decision to step down from the council.”