Saundersfoot Community Council is looking for eight new councillors after several mysteriously quit their roles, including the chair, who was only elected back in May.

Eight casual vacancy notices are now being advertised to fill the roles of community councillors, six for the seaside village’s south ward and two for the north.

Chair Cllr Nicola Cleevely who was elected to the position by fellow councillors at the general meeting back in May of this year for the financial year 2024/25, was the first to quit at the end of last month, and several more members stood down at the community council’s next official meeting a week later on October 3.

Only Councillors Rosemary Hayes, Michael Knibbs and Alec Cormack remain.

When approached by the Observer, a statement on behalf of the Community Council was issued by Cllr Alec Cormack as follows: “On 28th September, the Chair of Saundersfoot Council, Nicola Cleevely, resigned from the council.

“Cllr Cleevely was a universally liked and respected councillor and a unanimous vote of thanks was made to her at the meeting on October 3rd.”

At the Council meeting there were initially no nominations for Chair, so Cllr Cormack (who is also county councillor for the village’s north ward) agreed to stand for the role and was voted in as Chair.

“Following the meeting, several councillors decided to resign,” continued Cllr Cormack.

“After discussions with Pembrokeshire County Council, eight casual vacancy notices have been publicly posted that should allow the Council to co-opt Community Councillors at its meeting on November 7th."

It has not been made clear by the Community Council as to which members have decided to quit.

County councillor for Saundersfoot’s south ward, Cllr Chris Williams said that it was sad to lose the chair who he called an ‘incredible ambassador’ for the seaside village.

“I received a call from the Chair of Saundersfoot Community Council, Nicola Cleevely, confirming that she had resigned from her role,” he commented.

“In all my dealings with Nicola she has been exemplary and throughout her time as a councillor has always put Saundersfoot first.

“This is disappointing and very sad for our community to lose such an incredible ambassador for our village,” added Cllr Williams.

Back in May, in an address to fellow councillors, outgoing Chair Cllr Colin Evans said that 2023-24 had presented ‘several difficulties’ for the Council, before wishing his successor the best of luck for the upcoming year.