Furious local shops have banned a parish council chairman after they criticised second homeowners.
Dennis Clark, 77, has been banned from entering some shops in Burnham Market, Norfolk after he criticised how many people had bought homes in a village dubbed ‘Chelsea-on-Sea’ because of the high number of Londoners in the area.
Speaking to the Times, Mr Clark claimed they had turned the village “into something resembling Center Parcs” and dramatically impacted the community.
Mr Clark added: “None of the people who work in the village can afford to live here, we don’t have a village cricket or football team anymore.”
Following his comments, local entrepreneur Tim Roberts, who owns four businesses in the village said he was planning to ban Mr Clark from every single one.
Speaking to the Mail, he claimed the majority of business owners in the village wanted Mr Clark to step down from his role as Parish council chairman.
Mr Roberts added: “They are the lifeblood of the village. You see village pubs, shops, and post offices going [elsewhere] and that’s what’s going to happen here if they’re not careful.
“For Clark – who is the parish council chairman, although not for long I hope – to come out with such inflammatory comments and say businesses benefit massively is not what you’d expect from a parish council chairman.”
Mr Roberts isn’t the only business owner planning to ban Mr Clark, with another shop owner saying he wasn’t “welcome in any of the businesses here”.
Following the outpouring of rage against him, Mr Clark has said that despite receiving threats, he will not resign because he feels there is no reason for him to go.
He continued: “My resignation is being called for without justification. It feels like a witch-hunt is being organised. I shall not resign because I have done nothing wrong.”
While Mr Clark’s opinion about second homeowners may not be shared by businesses, GB News reported that many residents are critical of just how many properties they own.
A referendum on a ban on second homeowners took place in October last year and around 80 percent of residents voted in favour of the motion.
The new ban will stop existing houses from being turned into holiday homes and place conditions on new developments in the village.
One of the new conditions is that those who buy new builds must purchase the property with the intention of making it their primary residence.
