A departing councillor has claimed people in a Suffolk town are being “short-changed” by their representatives.

Former Halesworth Town councillor Stephen Burroughes, who is also a councillor for the county and the Suffolk Coastal district, has stepped down from the town council after just a year in the seat.

Mr Burroughes gave his reasoning for stepping down, saying: “I’m a county councillor and district councillor as well. I got a promotion at Suffolk County Council to become Education and Children’s Services scrutiny committee chairman, looking at how Suffolk is delivering those services and I now have got to get my head around it.

“I have been on the town council for 12 months because I knew they were struggling and they were in a difficult place.

“I came second in the election and wanted to make a difference.

“There’s no strategic vision and they don’t seem to get much done. When I asked about how we can modernise and change it was almost met with blank looks.

“I personally feel I’m wasting my time and I have lots going on and I don’t want to spread myself too thin.

“I would have enjoyed getting stuck in. They need to work together for the common cause.

“The issues they were dealing with were on the agenda 20 years ago. They haven’t moved on at all.

“The people of Halesworth are being short-changed and I felt I had enough.

“It sad because I want to do what I can.”

Mr Burroughes added that the council needed a shake up and “pull themselves together and move on,” saying it didn’t seem to be going anywhere, and that he lost his enthusiasm.

He added: “It was great to be asked to take on the new role and I’m focussing my attention on things that are important.

“I think they will move on but unfortunately it will be without me.”

Chairman of the town council, Annette Dunning, said: “I would like to thank councillor Stephen Burroughes for his efforts to help and support Halesworth during his time on the town council and I am very sorry to see him leave.

“It is the role of the council to consider and debate mixed opinions from the whole of the community and we must overcome the problems of the vocal minority who focus on imposing their personal views on sitting councilors.

“Meantime I should like to thank the remaining councilors for continuing to work for the benefit and wellbeing of the whole town.”