The chairman of Little Burstead parish council has been told to "grow up" by a fellow councillor.

The war of words has broken out since Mark Dale cut off all contact after members passed a vote of no confidence in him. He was asked to resign in November leaving the council in a state of limbo.

Parish councillor Ron Francis said the council has been put through "hell" by parishioners. He predicts that all five Burstead councillors will stand down at May's elections.

Colleagues are now waiting to see if he will attend a parish meeting on Wednesday.

Mr Francis said: "I am very disappointed Mr Dale has not been in contact with the council because it would have been courteous to answer the letter we sent him. He has to grow up a bit."

Little Burstead Parish Council has been fiercely criticised for spending £1,000 on millennium projects including the commissioning of a bench and the planting of a year 2000 oak tree.

Mr Dale said antagonism from residents over the issue had disillusioned the district's five councillors.

Pamela Ashcroft, parish council secretary, said: "We have not heard anything back from Mr Dale and have had no contact since our special meeting calling for his resignation. This is a difficult situation - it is hard to know what to do next."

Mrs Ashcroft added: "I would have thought, out of consideration, that he would have at least contacted us to say 'I amstaying' or 'I am standing down.' We are in a state of limbo waiting for some confirmation from him."

Councillor Michael Smith said: "It is his decision whether he comes to the meeting or not. It is entirely a matter for him to decide. The council will go on functioning with or without him.

"It should not affect the business we do or any decisions we make - life will go on."

Replying to the allegations, Mr Dale denied fellow councillors had contacted him. He said: "I do not wish to say any more at this stage, but a statement will be made at Wednesday's council meeting."

Mr Dale also refused to confirm whether he would be attending that meeting. I may be - then again I may not," he said.

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