Group leader 'relieved at survival' (From Watford Observer)

Callowlands Community Group chairman says political row jeopardised future

3:42pm Thursday 16th February 2012 in News By Mike Wright

The leader of a Watford community group has spoken of her relief after it survived a political row that left its future in jeopardy.

Callowlands Community Group chairman, Dee Kett, said the association had come through a rocky period, started when its former chairman was forced to stand down, after finding new members to get involved with its committee.

Her comments followed a well-attended and successful meeting of the association on Wednesday. The previous chairman, Dennis Wharton, who is running as a Liberal Democrat in the May council election, was made to resign his post by the Watford Community Housing Trust after penning a letter criticising a Labour councillor.

The move cast doubt on the future of the group as it would have had to fold if new members could be found to take up the vacated post on its organising.

At the meeting last night, held in the North Watford Bowls Club, Ms Kett was confirmed as chairman of the group and two volunteers were found to share her previous role as secretary.

The meeting had a healthy turn-out of residents and debated a number of topics affecting the area from the expansion of Beechfield Primary School and the night-time switch-off of street lights Following the first meeting since its Ms Kett said: "I am ecstatic, it has been really good. It has been rocky, but we have got over the hurdles and turned a negative into a positive."

She said she hoped the group would grow in strength, but that it was up to its members to decide what it wants.

"It depends on the residents and what they want," added Ms Kett.

The group was set up with the help of the Watford Community Housing Trust and Mr Wharton was agreed as chairman in November.

However, he was made to stand down by the trust as they deemed his letter attacking Leggatts councillor Asif Khan breached rules about the groups remaining apolitical.

Elected councillors are barred from holding chairmanships of trust-organised housing groups and new rules are being draw up banning people running for elected-office.