The parish council in Peasedown St John has come under fire again this week for banning the public from one of its meetings.

The governing body, which spends up to a quarter-of-a-million pounds of taxpayers’ money each year, not only banned the public but failed to advertise it in the usual, legal manner that councils are meant to.

Gavin Heathcote, who leads the ‘Peasedown Together’ movement which has been campaigning to bring about radical change to the council for the last year, said: “It just beggars’ belief! Despite the criticism the council has faced over the past year it’s still not willing to be more transparent over its finances.With the extortionate rates Peasedown taxpayers already pay to the parish council, one of the highest in the region, isn’t it about time local people had a say on how their money is spent?!”

The meeting to discuss the council’s finances was held last Tuesday night at Beacon Hall, behind closed doors. No paperwork or print-outs of council finances were produced either.

Gavin added: “We want to create a more open and resident-focused parish council. With a budget of over a quarter-of-a-million pounds each year, the parish council spends huge levels of public funding – often without any public consultation or engagement, and last Tuesday’s meeting was no different.”

Gavin and the Peasedown Together team are also keen to hear from anybody who would you like to stand as a candidate in the May 2023 Peasedown Parish Council Elections.

“Fed up with the status quo? Want to make a difference?”, added Gavin, “then get in touch!”. For more details contact Gavin by emailing [email protected] or calling 07557 683834.