In a historic move, members of the parish council of a North Yorkshire village have been disqualified after a row over turkeys paralysed local democracy.

All five members of Moor Monkton Parish Council have been forced out of office after a row over a planning application to expand a turkey farm.

The parish council has been split irrevocably since it voted three-to-two to give its backing to the turkey farm, causing a row among the village's 225 residents.

The rumpus has crippled the council because three of the five members, who are in favour of the turkey scheme, have not attended meetings since September.

Under parish council rules, if a meeting is not held for six months, members must be disqualified.

Villagers are being invited to attend a parish meeting on Monday to pick a temporary parish council until elections for a new one can be held.

Coun Jean Close, the parish clerk, who along with fellow councillor Major Tony Gordon opposed the turkey farm expansion, said they would both be seeking re-election at Monday's meeting.

However, ex-chairman Elsie Farnworth refused to comment on the matter except to say: "I want nothing more to do with them."Mrs Close said: "I gather we are making history here. The borough council told me this has never happened before."

She said she hoped villagers could put the rumpus behind them and elect a new council to carry on with parish business.

The row means matters such as setting the parish precept and submitting views on planning applications have not been carried out for six months.

Harrogate borough councillor for the area Warren Fennicke-Clennell had acted as a mediator between the two factions and said it was sad the problems could not have been resolved.

He said: "Basically there was a certain planning application which came forward and there was a split vote at parish council. As a result, the people involved found it very difficult to work with each other thereafter. I think it is very sad."

The parish meeting will take place at the Old School Room in the village on Monday at 7.30pm and elections for a new parish council will take place on May 7.

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