A FLINTSHIRE town councillor has stepped down from his position due to a feeling of disharmony within the group.

It was said by the town clerk, Mrs Janet Jones, at the recent town council meeting on Tuesday (July 9) that Mr Bob Hewitt has retired because he “doesn’t feel comfortable anymore.”

She added that the former councillor believes the community council “is not the happy family it once was.”

After being questioned by the Leader on those comments, Mr Hewitt said: “I’m an old-fashioned kind of guy. Things and times were changing, and I wanted to retire anyway.”

Mr Hewitt operated as a councillor in the Sandycroft ward of the Queensferry Community Council for over 10 years but is now planning to devote his time to his family.

He was initially convinced to reconsider his stance by the Chairman of the Queensferry Community Council, Cllr Eric Lomas, around May 2019.

But after continuing to think about his decision, Mr Hewitt officially resigned from the council this month by informing the clerk.

About his former colleague, Councillor Eric Lomas, said: “He was a valued member of the council and of the local community.

“Being the Chairman, I phoned him a couple of months ago to try and persuade him to stay, by saying that he has the experience to continue being an important part of the council.

“He was unsure at that point, but eventually he followed the proper procedures to leave by officially informing our town clerk last week.

Queensferry Community Council now have a casual vacancy that Flintshire Council will guide them with in terms of advertising the position.