Ferndown Town Council has been hit by the resignations of four councillors within 24 hours.

Malcolm Birr, of Links South, Maurice Francis, of Links ward and Peter Oggelsby, of Ameysford Ward all handed in their notice after the annual meeting on Monday, May 17.

Longham ward’s John Wilson quit on Tuesday, May 18.

Cllr Oggelsby, vice chair of the finance and administration committee, said he was frustrated by the council’s lack of direction.

“We’ve always run a fairly prudent council in the past and kept reserves for various things,” he said.

“But taxpayers’ money has been spent without really any noticeable benefits.

“Reserves have gone down considerably, swallowed by different projects.”

The former mayor said he had considered jumping ship for two years, after money set aside for burial grounds, allotments and council properties was lumped into one main pot.

More recently a budget proposal, offering a 2.6 per cent drop in precepts, was voted against without discussion.

“I asked myself why am I on this council?” he said. “Only to spend hours working on certain projects and things like that happen.

“It’s abysmal, and the final straw for me.

“Money will be required in the future, there won’t be any, and consequently the only thing to do will be put the precept up, which in this day and age is unfair.

“I’ve contributed my part to the community, but I feel I’m out of touch with the way the majority feel.”

Cllr Birr, chairman of the finance and administration committee and also a district councillor, shared Cllr Oggelsby’s disappointment at the budget.

He added: “It was increasingly obvious that with my other commitments I was struggling to give the necessary effort.

“Adverse publicity affected me personally, so I’ve decided to continue with my other community and voluntary work.”

Cllr Wilson felt torn by his role as Dorset County Council chair, and saw the mayoral year’s end as an “opportune moment” to leave.

“It weighed fairly heavily on me,” he said. “Conflict of interests meant I was forever having to leave discussions. The two roles don’t fit comfortably together.”

Rows over Ferndown Leisure Centre funding in January played a part.

“It certainly made me think about the situation,” he said.

Cllr Francis Cllr Francis also felt the council had become too political, adding: “I no longer wish to associate myself with a group of people who purport to have the interest of the residents at heart, but who neither have the wherewithal or commitment to carry out the tasks that they signed up for.”

Stormy history

FERNDOWN Town Council has had a stormy recent history.

In 2007 the council was paralysed as 16 members stood down.

The same year, mayor Liz Stevens asked councillors stop bullying her. She was signed off work with stress.

Earlier this year, former mayor Lesley Dedman reported Cllrs Birr, Francis and outgoing mayor Queenie Comfort to the Standards Board, claiming they had bullied her and failed to treat her with respect.

They all denied the allegations.