Brockenhurst Parish Councillor Alan Bartlett and clerk Heather Lawrence quit before agreement to give Hampshire County Council £40,000 for Brookley Road scheme

A PARISH councillor and clerk quit their roles before members agreed to put £40,000 into a controversial roadworks scheme.

Brockenhurst Parish Council members voted to contribute cash towards the county council’s controversial Brookley Road works at an extraordinary meeting last week. The money will be used to install block paving instead of black asphalt in the high street.

As reported by the A&T, the drainage and resurfacing works have been unpopular with local traders, many of whom say they have seen up to a 50% fall in takings while the scheme has been ongoing.

The extraordinary council meeting was held after “confusion” over the outcome of a funding vote at a previous council meeting.

Former councillor Alan Bartlett, who runs Streets Ironmongers, told the A&T he quit his parish council role after the first meeting but refused to give further details. Part-time council clerk Heather Lawrence also stood down from her role.

Council chair Cllr Russell Horne told the A&T: “We had an extraordinary meeting on 3rd June after things got a bit difficult at the previous one [on 20th May].

“There was some confusion over the actions taken at the first meeting, so we had another.

“Very sadly we had one councillor step down who had not been supportive of the Brookley Road scheme, and was upset at the works going on and who said ‘enough is enough’.

“I can appreciate that, and it’s a great loss to us.”

The minutes of the 20th May meeting said councillors had “shared their disappointment” over the county council’s costing for the road works, adding that “value for money was still a concern”.

They continued: “The revised county council funding agreement was considered…

“Voting took place (and) the following morning concerns were raised by councillors to the chairman, questioning the legitimacy of the voting procedures and whether any vote can be recorded.

“Therefore, with no definitive decision that the clerk can act upon… the funding agreement could not be signed.”

Following the subsequent extraordinary meeting where funding was approved, Cllr Horne said: “The county council felt it could not include block paving as part of the active travel scheme, and we said we could help out with that. We couldn’t justify paying £70,000 but we have ended up agreeing to pay up to £40,000.

“Our clerk has been pretty hard pushed over this [road works scheme] and stressed over the work, and she’s handed in her notice.

“At the extraordinary meeting, we agreed we would replace the clerk and we will be advertising the position soon. She still works for the council and has made herself available to consult while a replacement is found.”

Cllr Michael Harris, who attended both meetings, said: “There was some confusion as a result of the 20th May meeting, and that confusion did lead to the resignation of Alan Bartlett.

“We also had the resignation of the parish clerk.

“The matter is now in hand, contractors are continuing road works despite an agreement not being signed yet – there’s good will on both sides and things are progressing satisfactorily.

“At the first meeting things were a bit difficult for the chair and temperatures were rising a bit. He was trying to steer things as best he could and at the same time trying to consider which way to cast his vote.

“There were those who were vehemently against signing a deal with the county council [over roadworks funding].”

Cllr Harris added: “The clerk I think had not handled things well. She was expressing her own opinions and urging which way to vote, as a result it was said the council had not gone through the correct process.

“The clerk… as a result of comments after that first meeting decided she should resign.”

A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said: “The standard choice for a scheme of this nature is to apply Tarmac surfacing, which is both durable and cost effective.

“Tarmac was also in place at this site before the improvement scheme.

“When plans for the Brookley Road project were shared with Brockenhurst Parish Council, they expressed a preference for a blocked paved surface which is a more expensive option, and as such they were advised they would need to fund the extra-over cost which they have duly done.

“The scheme remains on track to complete next week.”

The A&T has approached Ms Lawrence for comment.

* A picture used in the article purporting to be Alan Bartlett was not the former councillor, for which the A&T apologises