A Bembridge Parish councillor – and owner of a pub in the village – has stood down after threats to ‘burn his business down’.
Jay Chapman, the publican of the Old Village Inn on Bembridge High Street, wrote to the chair of Bembridge Parish Council, Councillor Liz White, on Sunday telling her of his decision to resign.
In his letter, Mr Chapman says the recent 1-star food hygiene inspection of his business has been met with ‘a barrage of hate messages and threats of violence via social media and email’. Mr Chapman said threats of violence had been directed towards himself and his business, which is also his family home.
He said:
“As a result of these targeted attacks to my individual person and threats to ‘burn my business down’, I am left with no other option than to believe that my public position as a volunteer on the parish council has come to a sad end.”
Mr Chapman said it was not the first time he had looked to step down as a ‘direct result of vexations towards him’. Mr Chapman separately raised grievances with former parish councillor Alasdair Steane, saying recent interactions were a step too far.
Previously, Mr Chapman said he had tolerated clashes and viewed the input he gave to BPC as a benefit for the village.
He said his resignation would not be the last time the parish loses a valued and respected member of the council due to the actions of Mr Steane, who should “be uniting a community rather than destroying it”.
Mr Steane was contacted for a comment but declined at this stage until he had seen the full documentation. Mr Steane has in recent weeks raised issues with BPC over the co-option of 2 new councillors last year. He alleges his application to return to the council was withdrawn, against his wishes, due to more than 1 candidate standing for each seat among other issues.
Bembridge Parish Council denies the allegations Mr Steane has raised against it.
It is a shame that Mr Chapman has decided to resign from the Parish Council over this issue.
The Parish Council needs more working people, who still have a grasp of reality. Otherwise there is the risk it can become top-heavy with bored, too much time on their hands, out of touch people who have had positions of authority in former employ, who then join Parish Councils to exert such.
The OVI issue had no bearing on the fact that Mr Chapman, being involved with a cross section of the wider public, gave him an advantage in being a good Councillor.
Others, in small ‘clicky’ circles can be uncaring about the wider communtiy.
It is a shame that Mr Chapman has decided to resign from the Parish Council over this issue.
The Parish Council needs more working people, who still have a grasp of reality. Otherwise there is the risk it can become top-heavy with bored, too much time on their hands, out of touch people who have had positions of authority in former employ, who then join Parish Councils to exert such.
The OVI issue had no bearing on the fact that Mr Chapman, being involved with a cross section of the wider public, gave him an advantage in being a good Councillor.
Others, in small ‘clicky’ circles can be uncaring about the wider communtiy.
All goes on in Bembridge.
So many self made important people ( in there own head ) thinking that they are special, When the truth is that nobody gives a f*** !
Far to many pillars of the community and there ego’s, all living in the one place.
I wonder if the 1 star rating is real or motivated by an agenda. As for the hate messages, some people are stuck in the playground mentality and are incapable of growing up and acting like adults. The news site is the closest I get to social media. Stay away from the rest of it. It’s a vile cesspit of ignorance and hate.