Eyre a victim of 'thirst for power' (From Bournemouth Echo)

Eyre a victim of 'thirst for power'

7:00am Wednesday 10th June 2009 in

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THE chairman of Bournemouth 2026 has reluctantly agreed to quit after being subjected to political pressure.

Douglas Eyre says he is “disappointed” at having to leave the hot seat of the vision group which plans to draw up a strategy for the town for next two decades.

A former Liberal Democrat councillor and Bournemouth mayor, Mr Eyre said he took on the position of independent chairman of the partnership with a “politics free” approach and continued that for the last four years.

In a letter to the council’s chief executive Pam Donnellan, Mr Eyre said he decided to step down following “protestations” from conservative council leader Stephen Macloughlin.

Cllr Peter Charon has been demoted in a shock move by council leader Cllr Stephen MacLoughlin.

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“I retired from the council in 2003 partly because I felt party political agendas were increasingly taking precedence over the town’s needs. I guess that Cllr Macloughlin’s attitude, for me, unfortunately endorses my concerns.”

He suggested that Cllr Macloughlin should adopt the Obama approach rather than the Orwell stance to run the partnership.

Speaking to the Echo, Mr Eyre said: “I have been black-marked out. I haven’t got the same coloured rosette.

“I felt this concern of the majority group on the council was in danger of damaging the partnership.”

He added: “This is thirst for power rather than what they are going to do with it. It is this obsession with controlling things. At the end of the day local government is about sharing.”

Mr Eyre’s decision to step down has been met with disappointment from local councillors and the partnership.

Debbie Clifton, development manager at Bournemouth 2026, said: “Doug’s leadership has been inspirational and we’re sorry to see him go.”

Cllr Macloughlin was unavailable for comment.