OPEN LETTER TO CLLR STEVE FRITCHLEY

Below is the full text of the open letter I sent to Councillor Steve Fritchley. In my view, he has failed the people of Shirebrook.

Like many residents of our town, I believe it’s time for Cllr Fritchley to step down and allow someone new to represent our community on Shirebrook Town Council. I’ve added a few explanatory paragraphs after the letter itself. This is open letter content:

Shirebrook 14.07.2025
Dear Councillor Fritchley,
My name is Sylwester Zwierzynski, and I’ve been a resident of Shirebrook since November 2013. I’m also the editor of the community blog www.shirebrook247.com, and a former councillor of Shirebrook Town Council. I’m writing to respectfully ask you to consider stepping down from your seat on the Shirebrook Town Council. Before I begin to persuade you, I’d like to present you with a few facts that convinced me to write this letter.

Firstly, your attendance at STC meetings has dropped dramatically, while you maintain regular attendance at BDC. This stark contrast raises serious concerns about your priorities and commitment to Shirebrook residents.

Secondly, your colleague Chris Kane showed integrity by stepping aside from STC, making room for new representation. Resigning isn’t beneath your dignity—it can be an act of leadership and honesty.

Thirdly, Shirebrook deserves consistent and visible representation. Since July 2024, you’ve attended fewer STC meetings than most people have fingers on one hand. That level of disengagement does not serve our community.

Fourth, I have tracked councillor attendance via my blog for years. You’ve consistently ranked among the least active members—perpetually in the relegation zone, to borrow a football metaphor.

Fifth, your attendance appears carefully timed to avoid the six-month disqualification rule. This suggests a calculated approach: doing just enough to hold your seat without genuinely contributing to the work of the council.

Sixth, over the past year, you’ve been absent from key debates about the crematorium, Town Square regeneration, rising crime, and more. Your pattern of attending only brief “special” meetings means residents lack proper representation on critical issues.

Seventh, your active BDC involvement proves that when you choose to engage, you can. By stepping away from STC, you could focus your energy where you’re clearly most committed—while giving Shirebrook a chance to elect someone who will engage locally.

I understand this may be interpreted as a personal attack, but my motivation is purely civic. To remove any doubt: I formally pledge not to stand in any by-election triggered by your resignation. This request is not for personal gain, but for the good of the town—especially as Shirebrook prepares for the new era of devolution.

Therefore, in a clear and transparent manner, I respectfully urge you to submit a letter of resignation to the Town Clerk so it can be read at the STC Full Council meeting on August 13, 2025.

To make this as straightforward as possible, I’ve enclosed a stamped envelope addressed to the STC Town Clerk and blank paper for your resignation letter. I’ve also included a second stamped envelope addressed to me, should you wish to respond personally. I would welcome any personal response, either by letter or email to info@shirebrook247.com

I understand you may see this as publicity-seeking, but that’s not my intention. I also know you enjoy political strategy, but this isn’t a game. I’m simply asking for representation that matches the responsibilities of the role. Should you step down, I will consider the matter closed and make no further public comment. However, if nothing changes, I believe the public has a right to understand their representation.

I appreciate that big decisions take time. That’s why I will await your response until Thursday, 1 August. I trust you will consider what’s best for our community.

Once again, I thank you for your years of service and sincerely wish you success in your continuing work at BDC.

Yours sincerely
Sylwester Zwierzynski

END

FEW MORE WORDS AND ONE MAP
When I sent this letter, I enclosed two stamped, addressed envelopes to make the resignation process as easy as possible. To this day, I have received no response and I don’t know if Steve Fritchley used envelope with STC address on it. Which, I suspect, means he chose not to take this honourable way out.

For six years now, I’ve tried to interview a single Labour politician. I must inspire so much fear in them that not one has had the courage to sit down and speak with me openly. Steve Fritchley’s recent resignation from the Labour Party gives him a rare opportunity to finally explain the many scandals, rumours, and unanswered questions that follow him both in town and beyond. I will offer him yet another opportunity to sit down with me and talk to residents about all controversies he induced in town and around it.

I also intend to intensify my investigation into his actions—so far, three different sources confirmed new allegations raised against Cllr Fritchley, but none of them decided to go official. I will try to obtain the official stand-line of BDC and police (which, according to my sources, is already involved in the matter).

But don’t hold your breath. Evil doesn’t like the light. It thrives in the shadows, far from the eyes of decent people. And councillors like Steve Fritchley are experts at playing “political games” where the wellbeing of residents comes second. That’s why he always runs in gerrymandered areas or wards with no competition. Even now, he sits on STC as a councillor for a specially created, artificially small ward.

While I, as an independent candidate, have to campaign across half the town—plus hundreds of homes on a brand new estate—Steve “represents” just two streets. He “represents” this ward by default, because no one else was standing against him and one more Labour candidate. He got zero votes, probably that’s why he shows zero effort.

STEVE!
So if you’re reading this—resign. We’ve had enough of your behaviour, your games, your arrogance and detachment. It was a good run. But it’s over. Now everything around you stinks like a swamp.

Stop dragging the rest of us down with you. Please—resign.

Sylwester Zwierzynski info@shirebrook247.com