Devizes Guardians have attempted to draw a line under the fallout of the resignation of mayor elect Jim Gudgeon but ill-feeling among other councillors remains.

Mr Gudgeon, a Conservative, resigned a few days after he was re-elected a town councillor because he claims Devizes Guardians leader and town councillor Nigel Carter told him they would run their own candidate at the mayor making if he did not agree to support their policies. Councillor Carter denied this.

The Guardians became the largest party on the town council following the local elections on May 2.

After Mr Gudgeon’s resignation the Guardians’ Pete Smith was voted in as the new mayor last Thursday, but in an unprecedented move the remaining six Conservative town councillors and independent Ian Hopkins abstained in the formal vote to elect him as mayor.

Coun Hopkins asked for his abstention to be recorded in the minutes.

Coun Smith’s supporters cheered and applauded when he returned from donning the mayoral gown.

But in his reply to a vote of thanks for all the work that he and his wife, Pam, had done during their mayoral year, retiring mayor Coun Kelvin Nash said: “I would like to thank Jim and Jenny Gudgeon who carried out their duties as deputy mayor and mayoress with dignity and honour.”

Pointedly looking in the direction of Guardians leader Coun Nigel Carter, he added: “It was with great sadness and regret that I received Jim’s resignation last week. This was caused by the actions of some councillors who did not conduct themselves with the necessary propriety. I hope we can now work together effectively and efficiently for the town.”

On Tuesday night, Coun Ted East, of Devizes Guardians, said the behaviour of Coun Hopkins and Nash at the mayor making was “unprecedented, inappropriate, not worthy of them and it brought them and the council into disrepute”.

He said he could request a motion of censure but decided not to pursue it.

n Letters: Pages 56-57