DID HE JUMP OR WAS HE PUSHED? MYSTERY OVER ABRUPT DEPARTURE OF POPULAR MAYOR

                                         

Why no official tributes to Mr Walker, a popular Mayor?

MYSTERY surrounds the departure from the council of the Mayor of North East Lincolnshire, Terry Walker.

In an official announcement, the council today declared a vacancy for the seat in Grimsby's East Marsh ward hitherto held by Mr Walker.

A statement read: "Mr Terry Walker ceased to be a member of North East Lincolnshire Council by reason of failure to attend meetings of the authority."

Mr Walker has not been in the best of health. As well as missing meetings, including those held virtually via the internet, he has not been fulfilling the civic responsibilities demanded by the mayoral office.

As a result, the Deputy Mayor, Cllr David Hasthorpe has been deputising.

The coldness of the council statement is stark. There has been no explanation for Mr Walker's departure, let alone a tribute.

It had been his second spell as First Citizen and had been extended by a year after Covid disrupted the civic calendar.

At the time of his election, on May 16, 2019, he expressed his determination to support as many local good causes as possible, with a special focus on young people.

The council says there will be no by-election to fill the East Marsh seat, which Mr Walker held for the Liberal-Democrats.

The vacancy will therefore be held open until the  main elections on May 6 this year.

The Grimsby News says: This is unsatisfactory. As well as announcing the vacancy for the East Marsh ward, NELC should have provided an insight into why Mr Walker, a popular mayor,  had ceased attending meetings. Was his state of health the main consideration or were there other factors? The community has a right to know. At the very least, someone at the authority should have thanked Mr Walker for his contributions and wished him well for the future.