A FORMER chairman of the Blackbird Leys Parish Council has resigned for a second time and suggested the body should be scrapped.

Brian Lester left the council last month, and has claimed the parish council for not doing enough to help people on the estate.

Chairman Gordon Roper has described the move as “petty” and said that the council works hard for residents.

Mr Lester, of Pegasus Road, told the Oxford Mail: “I came to the conclusion that it wasn’t worth trying to get things done there.

“I wanted to do stuff for the people of this estate and I’m being hindered.”

This is the second time Mr Lester has quit the council. In 2007, he resigned after more than five years as chairman, but returned three years later.

He said: “What’s the point in having a parish council when members don’t try and do anything?

“It’s a total waste of time.”

He said: “What I would like to see is a full complement of councillors with determination to do something for the people of Greater Leys and Blackbird Leys.

“I want people to take ownership of the estate and defend it.”

A point of dispute is the parish council’s website.

Mr Lester ran it until November, when it was taken over by Cllr Daniel Jones.

Mr Lester said: “We were told we were to have an all-singing, all-dancing website but nothing has been posted since December.”

Mr Roper replied: “Obviously we were disappointed Brian resigned, he’s done good work on the parish council.

“But at times he was being petty, criticising me for not living on the estate any more.”

He said that despite Mr Lester’s concerns, the council had worked to improve issues on the estate.

He added: “We’ve done a lot in the last couple of years, working on a path and lights for Spindleberry Park, finishing the skate park, dealing with complaints between neighbours and taking on the issue of the parking at the Leys Pool and Leisure Centre.”