A TROUBLED parish council looked to the future as it held its annual general meeting.

Members of the depleted Strensall and Towthorpe parish council met to confirm their new chairman and vice-chairman in Strensall village hall last night.

The Evening Press last month reported that six members of the council had resigned after months of simmering feuds. Former chairman Coun Elizabeth Blacklee told a meeting on Monday that "personality clashes" were to blame for a rift between a modernising faction and veteran councillors.

Coun John Scott told members last night: "It has been an appalling year." He welcomed the new chairman, Coun Peter Jesse. The council's new vice-chairman is Coun Keith Marquis.

Charles Harland, former finance committee chairman who resigned last November, told the Evening Press: "I think the parish council is now as one - they are all speaking the same language."

Updated: 10:56 Wednesday, May 12, 2004