A VETERAN councillor has resigned after demanding an apology from the Mayor, who called for ‘new blood’ on the council.

Eric White, aged 82, who originally joined Upton Town Council in the 1950s, is the third councillor to resign from the council in less than three weeks.

Mr White stepped down at a council meeting yesterday (March 29), following Stan Keyworth’s resignation last week.

Cllr Tim Dance, the Mayor of Upton, refused to apologise to Mr White after calling for 'new blood' and labelling the council an 'absolute shambles'.

Mr White said: “I want a public apology otherwise you can have my resignation. Obviously some of us are too old for the council.”

The councillor demanded an apology in relation to an email Cllr Dance sent to Stan Keyworth, in which he said that the council needed young councillors not 'has-beens'. 

Cllr Graham Francis added: “I think in view of what Cllr White has said I’d like to say that you [Tim Dance] were out of order in making those comments.”

He called on the Mayor to do the ‘honourable’ thing and apologise.

But Cllr Dance refused to apologise, he said: “No I won’t, you don’t make a remark and then retract it.

“I don’t see a reason to - has Cllr Webb apologised to the Upton Business Association as he was asked to?”

Cllr Peter Webb then said that the Mayor had taken him to standards – a group which monitors councillors’ behaviour.

“It’s unacceptable to criticise people if you don’t have the courage to name them,” he added.

Cllr John Thompson pointed out that the Mayor had not named anyone in his comments and Cllr Shirley Dobbin said that the council needed experienced members and asked Mr White to reconsider his resignation.

“Tim hasn’t said anyone in particular, I’m over 50-years-old, it could have been me,” she said.

Eric White first joined Upton Town Council in the 1950s but left and lived on the outskirts of London for 26 years.

Mr White said he then returned to the council in 1998, although he left again due to the way the current clerk was appointed.

His most recent stint on the council started in 2013 when he was elected with 112 votes, beating runner-up Mike Morgan, who received 53 votes. 

Some 21 members of the public attended last night's meeting, and councillors said they were pleased to see people from the community - despite many leaving at an early stage.

Catherine Badham stepped down from Upton Town Council on Tuesday, March 14, and Stan Keyworth resigned on Monday, March 20.