Statement from Halsall Labour councillor Maureen Mills re. her recent resignation from the borough council planning committee:

'I have had substantially greater business commitments this year and that is increasing.

I had come to the conclusion, supported by my family, that going forward I could not devote the necessary time to do that extremely important but time-consuming job that I have so much enjoyed.

Observers will ask whether it was really a coincidence that Cabinet has passed a motion regarding the Local Plan review with which I disagreed?

The answer is that it just reinforced my decision to resign.

The Local Plan is the bedrock of planning and I will make no secret of my support for Councillor Hodson's longer term, ambitious vision for the Borough and the broader scope of the proposed Plan.

That is not to say I did not have issues with the location of the additional housing allocation for Halsall but the additional allocation was, incidentally, under review as a result of the consultation feedback as per the consultation process.'

Horse manure springs to mind .

Was there not another Labour Councillor, she had not long been elected then found it all to much for her and resigned! Only to be replaced by one of the leading lights of this Labour group who had lost his seat! Call me clinical if you will! but!