THE general manager of Whitchurch Silk Mill has left his role.

The troubled mill, in Winchester Street, stopped producing silk in December 2011 after nearly 200 years, because it was costing too much money.

Since then, the board of trustees has been reshuffled with new members joining, and others resigning from their positions. The mill is now following a new plan of action, and has begun trial weaving again. But mystery surrounds why Stephen Bryer is no longer working for the mill.

At Whitchurch Town Council’s meeting on November 5, Councillor Claire Isbester, one of the directors of the mill, was asked by Cllr Linda Thomas whether Mr Bryer still works for the mill. She refused to answer, instead saying: “I hoped you wouldn’t ask me that. It’s something we want to discuss with the team at the mill tomorrow morning.”

However, when The Gazette phoned the mill on Tuesday, Cllr Keith Watts, chair of the Silk Mill trust, confirmed that Mr Bryer no longer worked there. He declined to reveal the reasons behind his departure, or when he had left.

Cllr Isbester told The Gazette: “We wanted to tell the team at the mill first that he wouldn’t be returning.”

She said a new interim manager will soon be appointed.