A demand has been made for a Suffolk town to hold a second parish meeting – so a failed request for a referendum can be attempted again.

East Anglian Daily Times: Hadleigh Guildhall, the home of Hadleigh Town Council. Picture: GREGG BROWNHadleigh Guildhall, the home of Hadleigh Town Council. Picture: GREGG BROWN

Hadleigh’s former deputy mayor Bill Wilson said he was “outraged” after last month’s call for a parish poll was deemed invalid.

The poll, or referendum, would have asked the people of Hadleigh whether they wanted to issue a vote of no confidence in the town council and bring about the resignation of all its current councillors.

Mr Wilson, who resigned from the council in January because of concerns with the way it was being run, said he had made the request to bring “fresh blood”.

The council has seen a number of internal disputes for several months, some of which required mediators to be brought in.

Disagreements have centred on Hadleigh’s neighbourhood plan, the Guildhall and plans for the cemetery.

A group of newer councillors has criticised some of the longer-serving members for not “engaging” with the public and “stagnating”.

The more senior councillors, meanwhile, have responded by accusing some of “trying to bring down the council”.

Mr Wilson’s call for a referendum was made at Hadleigh’s annual town meeting on Tuesday, April 24, but was deemed invalid by Babergh District Council because “the question was not properly agreed at the meeting”.

Mr Wilson said he had issued a demand for a new town meeting – which is the only occasion at which members of the public can request referendums – on Tuesday.

“A further motion will be put calling for a referendum asking all town councillors to stand down,” he added.

Hadleigh Town Council has confirmed receipt of Mr Wilson’s request and said the Guildroom in the Guildhall had been booked for 7pm on Thursday, May 24.

A council spokesman said that people voting on any motion put forward, such as whether to hold a referendum, would need to be on the electoral register for Hadleigh.

Babergh District Council said town meetings could be called in three ways – by request of a district councillor representing the town, by request of the town council chairman, or by the request of six electors.