A committee with aspirations to plant 500 trees in Petersfield has been disbanded in a move described as “petty political vandalism” by its final chairman.

David Petche resigned from Petersfield Town Council last Thursday after a motion by Cllr Chris Paige to disband the Town Development Committee passed by seven votes to five.

Most felt the committee – described as “nothing more as a waffle generator by Cllr Lesley Farrow – had “run its natural course” as it was launched after the Petersfield Neighbourhood Plan was approved. 

It was driven by the town council but also included residents and figures from groups like The Petersfield Society with aims to push forward the plan’s aspirations and the town spine project.

But it’s moved towards a greener agenda in recent years with joint projects with PeCAN to plant 500 trees and to help residents reduce their carbon footprint being examples.

Cllr Paige argued the TDC was working outside its terms of reference while Cllr Mary Vincent agreed some of the items debated could easily go to other town council committees.

She said: “Things like junctions and roadworks we can talk about, but we can’t do anything because it’s got no teeth or funds.”

“We’re not saying the current committee is failing in anything it’s doing, but there’s a few councillors and me who feel the TDC has come to the end of its need,” said Cllr Steve Dewey.

Councillors heard the TDC couldn’t review its terms as the committee wasn’t quorate for the relevant debate and couldn’t reschedule. Cllr Thomas Figgins suggested a “streamlined” TDC while a “gutted” Mr Petche accused other committees of not meeting their terms while he was “getting things done”.

He resigned during the meeting, later saying he could no longer put his “heart and soul into driving initiatives forward against “such senseless opposition”.