A MAJORITY of parish councillors across Ryedale have reluctantly signed up to new Government regulations.

Six members of Rillington Parish Council resigned last week after refusing the sign a new code of conduct introduced by the Government.

But despite mass opposition to the code, the Evening Press has learned that only one more parish member, from Ampleforth Parish Council, has resigned in protest.

Last month, three members of Foxholes Parish Council quit in protest at the new regulations.

Meanwhile, Eden Camp owner and multi-millionaire Stan Johnston resigned from Malton Town Council, also in protest.

The new regulations require parish members to declare their business interests within the parish.

That information will then be made publicly available. Those councillors who refuse to sign the code will be forced to resign. Those who have resigned from Rillington are Barbara Bowes, Deborah Darley, Geoffrey Dawson, Henry Horsley, Susan Maud and Blanche Southwell.

The resignations leave only five members remaining, which will only just enable the council to remain in operation.

Mrs Maud, who has been a councillor for more than 15 years, said: "We feel it is unnecessary for parish councillors to have to sign such a code - it's like Big Brother.

"Parish councillors do the job on a voluntary basis, we can't swindle anyone. It's very sad that we have this situation." Barbara Borrett, clerk of Amotherby Parish Council, said parish members had signed the code, but with a great deal of reluctance.

"We have discussed it in great depth and a lot of people are not happy about it," she said.

"We have nothing to hide and we are there to help the parish and everyone knows that. However, we thought our main duty was to the parish members, and we wanted to continue."

Ian Strong, secretary of the York-based Local Councils Association, said that parish members had nothing to fear from the code.

"Our view is that such information should only be available within the parish and should not be put on the website," he said.

"At the end of the day, councillors have to follow their own conscience. I would be sorry to see them resign because they do a splendid job in their communities."

Updated: 10:45 Saturday, April 13, 2002