ABERPORTH Community Council have been rocked by the departure of a second chairman in only five months.

Local businessman Gethin James – a former Ceredigion county councillor - abruptly quit the role on Monday.

He had taken over the role from Ceredigion County Council employee Richard Williams who unexpectedly resigned in April.

Announcing his exit on Twitter, Mr James – who runs the popular Cwtch Café in the village – posted: “After nearly 15 years of being bound by codes of conduct, today’s decision to resign from the community council is a liberating feeling.”

Subsequently confirming his resignation to the Cambrian News, he said: “The community council are not working as a team.

“There are elements within the council who are pulling against and inevitably undermining one another – quite frankly, the dynamics of the council are poor.

“I did think long and hard about leaving at this period because there is an audit coming up, but we are all volunteers at the end of the day and when you reach the stage where you feel your contributions are not valued or appreciated you end up asking yourself what is the point of carrying on?”

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