A POPULAR Humshaugh councillor has stepped down after 12 years.

Dick Moules, former chairman of Humshaugh Parish Council and chairman of Humshaugh Community Ventures, has dedicated years of tireless work to maintain the village’s key services.

He took over as parish council chairman last year, and has led campaigns against new housing developments in and around the village.

Dick said: “I have enjoyed every minute of it, but there comes a time when you have to step back a bit.

“In doing so, I’m hopefully making way for some new and younger blood on the parish council.”

Aside from the parish council, Dick also helped launch the group Humshaugh Community Ventures which led a determined campaign raising £36,000 to save the post office service in the village.

Although the campaign failed, villagers used the momentum that had built up to launch a bid to run the shop themselves.

On November 1, 2009 it opened as a community-run venture and is still going strong today.

Dick said: “The campaign really galvanised the community spirit and allowed us to take matters into our own hands.

“It’s a great success story.”

The community ventures group has distributed more than £50,000 in grants to village organisations from its profits, which have helped to establish a community oil-buying scheme and refurbish the village hall.

A statement from Humshaugh Parish Council, said: “Dick has been a very active parish councillor for the past 12 years, and the councillors would particularly like to thank him for his diligent work as chairman over the past year. We will miss his expertise, knowledge and drive to ensure Humshaugh continues to be a really great place to live.”