Founder member of trust resigns

Mr Manley, from Mildenhall, was a founder member of the non-elected trust that was set up two years ago.

Similar trusts have been set up nationwide to promote rural regeneration and improve social, economic and environmental well being.

The trusts are Government backed and in the last year the Marlborough group received £40,000 funding from the South West Regional Development Agency to help the area recover from the effects of foot and mouth.

It's meetings, like those of the elected local authorities, inevitably involve a lot of talking, probing new suggestions and idea sharing.

Chairman Melvyn Lillywhite, a former deputy head of St John's School, told the trust's meeting on Thursday that Mr Manley had resigned as vice chairman, as company secretary and as a member.

Mr Lillywhite said: "He has become disillusioned and thinks we have become too much of a talking shop."

In Mr Manley's letter of resignation, said the chairman, he criticised Mr Lillywhite for failing to give enough encouragement to the trust's directors who have been missing meetings.

However Mr Lillywhite added: "He said this is not meant as an attack on anyone but to highlight the apathy.

"Maybe we need to be a bit more vibrant than we have been in some areas."

Mr Lillywhite added: "I am very sorry that he has gone."

Chris Joseph, chairman of the trust's economy group, said Mr Manley had expressed an enormous level of commitment which some other members could not do because they were other volunteers and had other commitments.

Mr Joseph said: "He has obviously set very high standards which are not necessarily attainable.

"We have to get on and do the best we can in the best way."

Betty Dobson, chairman of the trust's education group, said she had every confidence in Mr Lillywhite's leadership. "I think we are very lucky to have Melvyn Lillywhite as chairman because he has seen us through some very interesting times," she said.