BOURTON Parish Council is looking for a new member following the resignation of one of its councillors.

Helen Macklin, who runs Lansdowne Villa guest house in the village, has resigned after three years of service.

Revealing the news at a meeting earlier this month, Chairman Bryan Sumner said: “It’s disappointing she’s decided that pressure of work is prevented her from continuing.”

He added the deadline for residents to call for a by-election is June 19.

Meanwhile, members decided not to pursue increasing the council from 11 councillors to 13 after they were advised by Cotswold District Council (CDC) their case would be “extremely weak”.

It follows calls made at last month’s meeting to look into the possibility of increasing the council members to help with the workload.

Cllr Sumner said he thought they should knock the idea on the head after receiving advice from CDC.

“We have not been oversubscribed in by-elections or main elections for some time,“ he said. “I think it’s extremely doubtful we would be successful and I think it would take six months anyway.”

New councillor Richard Vann was unanimously co-opted on to the council at the same meeting.