Councillor is forced out by 'hostile and corrosive comments'

By Steph Barnett
A Sandbach town councillor has resigned, after "hostile and corrosive comments" from other members forced him to leave. Will Goodall, who represented West Ward, handed in his resignation several weeks ago but it was only at Sandbach Town Council's meeting on Thursday that his resignation was accepted. In a letter to Mayor Gillian Merry, Mr Goodall wrote: "Over the last 12 months, as chair of projects, I have tried to work with my fellow councillors.
"Over recent days I have received emails that have disappointed me deeply. It is now clear that key players in the council, whom I had hoped to rely upon, do not understand the destructive force of their written and verbal activities. "Some seem to continue to focus on personal political goals, whilst others continue to nit-pick, draining valuable resources of officers and that of outside voluntary resources. "Last year, I invested much time and effort trying to persuade those councillors to work as a cohesive team and to work together for the benefit of our wonderful Sandbach community. "Clearly I failed to deliver in this mission." Mr Goodall added: "Sadly, as a result of the above disappointments and the recent series of typically hostile and corrosive comments at council meetings, I cannot see how I can now chair the Project Committee successfully and deliver what Sandbach badly needs. "I therefore feel it my duty to resign in order to avoid misleading the council with false hopes.
"Also I have no desire to waste either my time or that of the council, on such fruitless activity. "Clearly my resignation may cause ill feeling and upset amongst members and I know that some may feel I have let them down.
"However if it is at all possible that those councillors might actually stop and think about what they do, then my resignation will have been worthwhile." Mr Goodall was chairman of the Projects Committee, which met several times a year. He was involved with many schemes for Sandbach, including town entry signs, the town centre action plan and the market. Following the acceptance of the letter, many councillors said that Mr Goodall had made a valuable contribution. Coun Merry said: "I am sad to announce that Councillor Goodall has handed in his resignation. "He was a very capable councillor who always worked hard for Sandbach. He did a lot of good things for the town as a councillor and I'm sure he will continue to do so." In his tribute, Coun Les Morris said: "I didn't speak to him that much but I know he was a nice man and he would always try and do his best for the council and the town. "Let this be a lesson to us. I think it's a shame that other councillors have forced him out, but we have lost out in the end." Coun Stewart Holland added: "I agree and I think we should send a letter to Coun Goodall to thank him for his hard work." The council discussed the plans for a replacement and announced that there would be a co-option meeting at the Sandbach Town Hall on Friday at 7.30pm. At the meeting, which is open to the public, councillors will make a choice from five names, before taking part in a closed ballot, after which the results will be announced.

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