A NEWLY elected town councillor has stepped down over a row surrounding the distribution of 'disturbing' pre-election leaflets.

Richard Clifford, who had been elected to Stow Town Council in May, was accused of issuing offending literature within a parish magazine to 60 homes in Stow.

At the town council's monthly meeting on Thursday June 25, Stow resident Steve Jones said a lot of the content of the leaflets was disparaging towards his father, former Stow mayor Robin Jones, who is currently very ill.

He said a lot of the content was too distressing to read out but included damning statements regarding individuals including his father, the police, planning inspectors, GPs and others.

He added that one section referred to his father's current illness as: "God's will".

Mr Jones read a statement from his sister directly to Mr Clifford: "Robin lies paralysed by a brain tumour which will shortly take his life. What gives you the right to say that it is God's will? Your libellous statements have caused my family a huge amount of stress. You are not fit to speak his name and you are a disgrace to this council."

Mr Jones added he had been informed that the producer of the magazine was unaware the leaflet had been inserted.

Council chairman Mike Curtis told the meeting: "We are aware of this situation and have taken legal advice. This was something Richard did before he became a councillor and there is, therefore, nothing this council can do. All we can do as individuals is take legal advice."

Nigel Adams, head of democratic services with Cotswold District Council, confirmed Stow Town Council had asked for advice and confirmed the matter was outside the council's jurisdiction as Mr Clifford was not a councillor at the time the leaflet were distributed and they could not force him to go.

Stow resident Geoff Parke added: I only recently saw these documents and I am sure lots of councillors have seen them.

"I recommend everyone reads them because not only are they damning to one or two individuals but also individuals of the council. By implication these documents suggest that the whole of the council was complicit in the giving and receiving of bribes."

In his pre-election statement, Mr Clifford had written on Stow Town Council's Facebook account: "My name is Richard Clifford and I have lived in Stow for a number of years. During that time, I have become aware of how divorced from the people Stow Town Council has become. They do nothing for the town and its residents. That is not what localism is about. So it is time for change.

"I have had a varied career during my lifetime, which included a period of 10 years as a commissioned officer to the rank of Captain in the Queens Royal Irish Hussars. Towards the end of my service I was stationed in Iran where I was responsible for the regiment’s handing over to the Iranian Army. I remained in Iran for a further two years as a civilian advisor.

"During the time I have lived in Stow, I have supported the community and I help my neighbours whenever I can. If elected, I will do my best to support change and work on your behalf to make Stow a better place for us all to live."

Cllr Alun White proposed the council directly ask Mr Clifford to 'consider his position' to which the committee agreed unanimously.

Mr Clifford responded: "I will step down."

Mr Clifford told the Journal after the meeting that he wished to respond to the matter in due course.