Mayor of Gosport steps down after Pubwatch ban
The Mayor of Gosport Wayne Ronayne stepped down just six weeks into the role after the local Pubwatch gave him a six-month ban from its 36 venues due to two reports he was drunk and disorderly. Two incident reports were filed separately from two pubs.
Gosport Pubwatch chair Phil Cox said Ronayne, and Mayoress Paula Carter, were ejected by police from Wetherspoons pub the Star on 4 June after refusing to leave the premises.
He said the pair were asked to leave by bar staff because they had had too much to drink, and then Carter responded by threatening to close the premises down. She then attempted to enter the nearby Nelsons bar where she was again refused and made the same claim, he said.
'We stand by Pubwatch'
Following Ronayne’s resignation, JD Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We stand by the fact that Pubwatch exists to ensure that customers and staff can enjoy themselves when they visit a pub. If someone, whether they are a Mayor, or you or I misbehave, then Wetherspoon does not want them in our pubs.”
Steve Brown of Nelsons added: “It is totally within his remit if he chooses to resign. We just followed Pubwatch guidelines and I support the initial ban.”
A local resident’s online petition calling for the Mayor to resign in light of his “disgusting behaviour” received 159 signatures.
A spokeswoman from Gosport Borough Council said a new Mayor will be voted on at a meeting on 23 July. Ronayne will remain as a councillor for the authority.
Despite repeated attempts, the PMA was unable to speak to Ronayne.
