Clerk resigns over 'targeted campaign' from traders

A clerk has resigned after allegedly being subject to a "targeted and disproportionate campaign" from local traders, says a town council.

Lyme Regis Town Council alleges it has been the target of "repeated harassment, intimidation, bullying, hostility and abuse" by a "small minority of people associated with the Cobb Traders" over the past few months.

Business group Cobb Traders said it "does not recognise the entirely unfounded accusations" and that it has "challenged" the town council "on a number of matters".

The council has suspended the public forum from the beginning of future meetings, which the Cobb Traders says is "an attempt to curtail freedom of speech and public accountability".

In a statement, the council claimed that there has been a "persistent effort to undermine the integrity and reputations of individuals through unfounded allegations and misinformation".

"Councillors and staff are being subjected to harassment in their personal time and outside of official communication channels," it added.

"Friends and family have also been targeted and this is not acceptable.

"Heckling, shouting, jeering and pointing fingers at meetings is becoming increasingly aggressive and will no longer be tolerated."

The council added that a "personal vendetta has directly resulted" in the town clerk's resignation. He will leave at the end of December 2026.

The Cobb Traders group, which says it represents businesses in the town, denies these allegations and said: "Criticism and scrutiny of public decision-making do not amount to abuse or bullying; they are part of living in a free and democratic society".

The council said following the "appalling behaviour of some members of the Cobb Traders and their associates" at an annual meeting on 24 April and again at the full council meeting on 13 May, it feels it has "no choice but to suspend the public forum at the beginning of our meetings".

In response, the Cobb Traders said: "We encourage members of the public to request and listen to the audio recordings of the recent meetings, including the Full Council meeting, and judge the discussions for themselves.

"Our points have been made passionately, but always in the public interest."