Billy bombshell as he quits Town Council with parting shot

Residents tuning into the Town Council’s first ever livestreamed meeting on YouTube last night were treated to a ‘Billy bombshell’ with a councillor resigning and firing a damning parting shot at some colleagues in the chamber.

Cllr Billy Spencer has been a vociferous member of the council since joining two years ago, but shortly after the start of last night’s meeting he said that he has had enough of the “extremely hard and hostile environment”.

He also wished the new town clerk, Richard Williams, 'luck' in "steering this council into the 21^st century and stop it from making irrational and irreversible decisions”.

His full resignation speech is below and, in response, the Town Mayor, Cllr Phil Owen, said: “Very sad to hear that, you have been an extremely valuable member of the council and you will be missed.”

Last night's full resignation address by Cllr Billy Spencer:

“It is with regret that I must inform my constituents that I have taken the decision to step down from my position as town councillor from June 1, 2025.

“I will always be extremely grateful for the large amount of Welshpool people that elected me to this position nearly two years ago, and I hope that you all see that I have tried my hardest and fought tooth and nail to be a realistic and honest voice for you all.

“Unfortunately, the last few months I have found it an extremely hard and hostile environment to be involved in. There are members of the council who I truly believe want the best for our little town, and there are members of this council that do not.

“They don’t want change and are only in it for self-gain and self-importance and deliberately do underhanded movements that do not bode well with me or my constituents.

“I do not wish to waste any more of my precious family time voluntary for a council that I do not have any faith in, which has made my decision a lot easier.

“I wish those councillors who are truly doing this for the good of our townspeople the very best, and I wish our new town clerk, Richard, the very best in trying to steer this council into the 21^st century and to stop it from making irrational and irreversible decisions.

“But as the old saying goes, you cannot make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear! Thank-you.”