Parish council walk-out halts Methwold defibrillator bid

Now an extraordinary meeting could be called to ensure villagers' voices are heard.

Retired charity worker Shirley De'ath was hoping to put the case to Methwold Parish Council to support installing a defibrillator in the Brookville area of the community when the council met on Thursday night. 

Around a dozen residents who support the bid were also in attendance. 

But the meeting was called off after a councillor walked out because the vice-chair Denise Charlesworth-Smith had made a complaint about him and two others followed suit, leaving the council inquorate.

Mrs De'ath said: "I am absolutely astounded that they consider their own agenda and personal issues is more important than that of the local residents that they are there to represent.

Residents were hoping to install a defibrillator in Methwold Picture: Newsquest (Image: Public)

"I am very disappointed that such an important issue should be discarded in this manner. But I do promise we will get this defibrillator I will not give up in the quest to involve our parish council in executing their duty to us the residents.

"Fortunately we had a letter signed by the number of residents needed to request an extraordinary meeting within the next two weeks, which after delivering my presentation to the public forum I handed in with witnesses to the parish clerk."

When contacted by this newspaper, Mrs Charlesworth-Smith said: "I'm disappointed a private matter has been made public.

Denise Charlesworth-Smith, vice chair of Methwold Parish Council Picture: Sonya Duncan (Image: Sonya Duncan)

"I look forward to the matter soon being satisfactorily resolved and the parish council getting on with helping the public."

Villager Philip Wagstaff, who was also at the meeting, said: "There's a big row going on between various members of the council. I get the impression there's a big clash of personalities."

Villagers hope to install a defibrillator in Methwold Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: Newsquest)