THE parish councillor who reported his chairman to a government watchdog over a controversial U-turn on plans for a skate park has replaced him.

Cllr Pat Wright has been named chairman of crisis-torn Whiteley Parish Council.

Former chairman Ron Finlay dramatically quit his post, along with colleagues John Hall and Kate Chapman, who are also being investigated by the Standards Board for England.

A fourth member, vice chairman Kevin Gristock, who also voted against plans for a skate park but is not under investigation, also stood down.

Now Cllr Pat Wright is looking to the future.

He told the Daily Echo: "I am looking forward to being chairman and I am confident Whiteley Parish Council will come through its difficulties.

"We have got to have a council and will be looking for more people to volunteer their services."

Members of the parish council have since co-opted another councillor - Vic Hatch - to replace Winchester city councillor Caroline Watts who has moved away from Whiteley.

But that still leaves the council five members short of a full house.

Clerk Nicki Oliver said: "We've just released a parish plan setting out some of the things we'd like to do in the near future if we get some people.

"There's lots of things for young people that we want to get organised. We want to get them some transport out of here and also some things organised for them to do in Whiteley."

"We're also developing our newsletter. There really are lots of projects for people to get involved in."

Whiteley Parish Council represents around 1800 residents in the Winchester part of Whiteley.