Councillor Sally-Anne Wadsworth, Chairman of Oakham Town Council and Oakham Mayor, has responded in detail to the comments and accusations levelled against her by former Oakham Town Councillor Zoë Nealson.

Mrs Nealson resigned from Oakham Town Council on the evening of the controversial Oakham Skatepark project vote following a heated exchange with Cllr Lowe. It had previously been recommended by Rutland County Council that Cllr Lowe be suspended from Oakham Town Council in lieu of alleged offensive comments directed towards Mrs Nealson.

Zoë Nealson was Oakham Mayor in 2021.

Read former Cllr Nealson's resignation here.

In the letter, Mrs Nealson states that one of the reasons for her resignation was the "behaviour and conduct" of Cllr Wadsworth, as well Cllr Lowe being allowed to "attack and slander" her in public by the Town Council Chair.

Today, 13 December 2022, Oakham Mayor and Town Council Chairman Sally-Anne Wadsworth has responded.

Cllr Wadsworth wrote:

Zoë's resignation letter states that under my leadership the council showed itself to be a disgrace. I am only one person on a council of 11 members, and other members voted the way they thought was right. I voted against a skatepark being built on the centenary field. Why did I vote this way? Well, I've listened and read letters from all sides of the argument.

Against - We had letters from the care homes and residents from Prince George Ave area regarding ASB

For - something for the older children to do.

I'm all for trying to sort out something for the older children to do and the skatepark is a wonderful idea but my feeling is the centenary field just was not the right place for it to be placed.  The group were looking at siting it in 2 different areas; one near the wooded area and other near the main road.  The wooded area to me is not the safest place especially on darker nights with no lighting in that area.  The other option was to place it next to a busy junction on the Lidl corner. Yes, it would be lighter in the evenings, but to have children playing so close to the main road would not be good.  Drivers could be distracted by the children skating and an accident would be the last thing I felt I would wish to be responsible for.

The letter also states the public were disappointed that the council could not support a positive move for the town.  I'm not sure that Zoë spoke to any of the residents that were at the meeting to get their opinions as I believe they were not disappointed.

Yes, I was a member of the skatepark working group but felt this group to be very closed to any other options except Centenary field. As Zoë had been an active member and chairman of the skatepark working group, I asked her to make a statement on my behalf about how the group was progressing but this request was refused. Since I didn't feel that I was as knowledgeable as Zoë on the subject, a statement was not made. I don't feel it is fair to blame me for the lack of communication with the public when I asked for help and this was refused.  

The first public meeting was held on a Saturday; as I am self-employed, I needed to work on this day so could not attended.  I did call in at the end of the day and was totally blanked by all but one of the members of the working party.  The second meeting was on a Tuesday evening and as Zoë says I did drive past and the chamber was full, so I decided after the reception I received at the first meeting I would not go in.

I am also accused of allowing Cllr Lowe to attack and slander Zoë during a public session.

Cllr Lowe stated that at a working group he had brought to the attention of the group that a land owner/developer was willing to talk with the working group. Zoë said that never happened and that is when Cllr Lowe called Zoë a liar.  I didn't feel it was necessary to speak to Cllr Lowe at this time. It did happen and is minuted in the papers of that meeting.

I was then verbally attacked in the meeting by Zoë's wife at which point Zoë asked to leave the meeting which I said was ok.

Yes, Zoë has raised concerns about my conduct of which none of them have been upheld. She says that I have made unilateral staffing decisions. All staffing decisions have been made with advice from the council's HR advisors. She may not agree with the way things have been handled but that is her own personal opinion. 

This statement is made by Sally-Anne Wadsworth, Chairman of OTC. This is my personal opinion and not necessarily the opinion of other members of Oakham Town Council.

None of the views expressed in this article represent the views of Oakham Nub News.