Liam Costello, Marlborough’s much admired town clerk for the past two years, has announced his shock resignation – to take on a new post much nearer his home.
“Marlborough is a wonderful town to work in and I shall miss it very much,” he told Marlborough News Online. “But the opportunity came up to work much closer to my home and I couldn’t reject it.”
Mr Costello lives in Wootton, near Northampton, and commutes daily the 80-mile journey to Marlborough that takes him 90 minutes each way.
“It wasn’t a real problem as such,” said 54-year-old Mr Costello, who is married with two children. “But someone mentioned to me a similar post as town clerk of Olney, a market town very similar to Marlborough, which is only 12 miles away and I couldn’t resist it.”
He said he was leaving – probably halfway through December — with “a heavy heart” and added: “But I shall take many fond memories with me of my time here, and of the people that I have met, both within the council and the community at large.
“Marlborough is a fantastic town with a proud history and cultural heritage. I shall look on with interest at the exciting times that lie ahead for Marlborough.”
Mr Costello took over the reigns in Marlborough in September, 2009, following a difficult time when Pam Dobson resigned as after it was disclosed that she owed £6,000 in her council rent.
“Liam was appointed when I was mayor, so I had a big hand in him coming here,” Councillor Nick Fogg told Marlborough News Online. “I have not considered for one minute since that we didn’t make the best-possible choice.”
“As is generally known, Liam inherited a very difficult situation. He represented Marlborough town council to great effect at a subsequent employment tribunal, which could have been a disaster for us.”
“His competence and knowledge has always been tempered by warmth, humour and compassion. He was an outstanding Town Clerk. We will miss him greatly. Olney’s gain is our loss, but we can do no other than thank him for his tremendous contribution and wish him and his family well for the future.”
Councillor Alexander Kirk-Wilson, the present mayor, said:
“Mr Costello took over as Marlborough’s town clerk at a challenging time, the previous town clerk having left in difficult and acrimonious circumstances.”
“His knowledge and professionalism, as well as his cheerful good nature, was crucial to restoring normality to the council and he will be sorely missed.”
Councillor Richard Pitts told Marlborough News Online: “It has been a pleasure to work with Liam over the last two years and I am very sorry to see him go, but quite understand that in the age of raising fuel prices it is an unsustainable commute.”
“When he first arrived he dived into driving the construction of Marlborough’s skate park with me. That work established his complete professionalism.”
“His work on improving the efficiency of council’s back office operations with Mrs Sue Fry, the office manager, has been outstanding. Improving the accounting processes and saving on the way the payroll worked, coupled with his excellent work on the streamlining of the committee processes, he has been an outstanding town clerk.”
“I wish him every success for the future.”
